United eye return to summit

Charlie Slocombe takes evasive action during Hastings United's last home game against Three Bridges on December 7. Picture by Simon Newstead

Having dropped from first to third as a result of being fixtureless on Saturday, the U’s will go back to the top of Ryman Football League Division One South if they win at home to Walton & Hersham.

United are currently two points behind leaders Peacehaven & Telscombe, who continued their fine form with a 6-0 thrashing of Worthing at the weekend, and they trail second-placed Leatherhead on goal difference. The U’s have played a game less than Peacehaven and two fewer than Leatherhead.

But the meeting with 10th-placed Walton & Hersham certainly won’t be easy. Although the Surrey outfit lost 3-2 at Burgess Hill Town on Saturday, they were 4-0 winners at home to Guernsey just three days after United had lost to the same opponents last month.

Kick-off at The Pilot Field is 7.45pm and if you can’t make it along, you can get regular updates from the game by following @SimonNewstead on Twitter.

No pitch inspection is planned at the moment, but heavy rain is forecast for this afternoon and evening. Further news will appear on this website in due course. The match was originally due to take place on Saturday November 9 only to be postponed following prolonged torrential rain.

United’s under-18 team is also due to be in action tonight with a Ryman Youth League South Division match away to Eastbourne Town. United will be hoping for a repeat of their 4-1 victory in the reverse fixture on November 7.