Ray points the way for United

Following the cold snap which wiped out the last two weekends of Ryman Premier football, Hastings are due to resume their fight against relegation with a trip to bottom-of-the-table opposition who have accumulated just 11 points from 28 games.

The last time the teams met was in October when the U’s romped to a 5-0 success against a Horsham side which finished with only nine men.

It might be too much to hope for a similar outcome but any sort of result that brings a much-needed win would be the perfect fillip ahead of two tough-looking home games against Wealdstone next Saturday and Lowestoft Town the following Tuesday.

“We’ve got two hard games coming up at home so it’s more important we pick up three points on Saturday,” said Ray. “We want four points from the two home games and seven out of a possible nine - that’s our target.”

Horsham have won only twice in the league all season and are 16 points adrift of safety, but they did gain a morale-boosting 2-0 win away to Pagham in the Brighton Charity Cup on Tuesday.

Hastings will be without suspended duo Jamie Crellin and Jordan Woodley against Horsham, but they have bolstered their squad by securing the services of another youngster for a month from Charlton Athletic.

Midfielder Jamal Willer will link-up with Bradley Goldberg who joined a couple of weeks ago but because of the bad weather has still to make an appearance. Willer is described as “a player boosting impressive balance, good control and quick feet”.

TODAY’S SENIOR FOOTBALL FIXTURES (KICK-OFF 3PM UNLESS STATED)

Ryman League, Premier Division: Horsham v Hastings Utd.

Sussex County League, Division 1: Hassocks v Sidley Utd; Rye Utd v Redhill.

Division 2: Bexhill Utd v Mile Oak; Little Common v Eastbourne Utd AFC 2.30; Westfield v Southwick 2.30.