U’s out to end Trophy drought

Hastings United will be gunning for an all-too-rare FA Trophy victory this afternoon (Saturday).
Hastings United full-back Andy Henson is thought to be around a fortnight from fitness. Picture by Terry S. BlackmanHastings United full-back Andy Henson is thought to be around a fortnight from fitness. Picture by Terry S. Blackman
Hastings United full-back Andy Henson is thought to be around a fortnight from fitness. Picture by Terry S. Blackman

The U’s, who lie third in Ryman Football League Division One South, will entertain a Brentwood Town side which is third-from-bottom of Division One North in the preliminary round.

United haven’t won a match in the prestigious national non-league knockout competition since their two victories in the 2008/09 season under the management of John Lambert.

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“We’ve had three really good results against decent teams,” said United manager John Maggs. “We might be going into a period where people think ‘there’s three points there or an easy cup run’ - not at all.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re very professional about the job we do and these players have got to realise they’ve got to guard against any complacency.”

A home tie against fellow Division One South sides Horsham or Chipstead is up for grabs for United. A United victory would also mean the scheduled league game away to Guernsey on Saturday October 19 would be postponed.

Elsewhere today, Rye United will be desperate to regain some form when they host Pagham in Sussex County Football League Division One, while in Division Two, Bexhill United are at home to Oakwood and Westfield will entertain second-placed Loxwood.

ALL TODAY’S FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(Kick-off 3pm unless stated)

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FA Trophy, preliminary round: Hastings Utd v Brentwood Town.

Sussex County League, Division 1: Rye Utd v Pagham.

Division 2: Bexhill Utd v Oakwood; Westfield v Loxwood.

Reserve Section (East): Hailsham Town v Bexhill Utd; Little Common v Lancing; Seaford Town v Westfield.

ADA East Sussex League, Premier Division: Ninfield Utd v Iden; Robertsbridge Utd v Ticehurst; Rock-a-Nore v Ore Athletic; St Leonards Social v Hollington Utd.

Division 1: Battle Baptists v Icklesham Casuals; Eastbourne Albert v Mountfield Utd; Langney Wanderers II v Orington; Sedlescombe Rangers v Crowborough Athletic III.

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Division 2: Catsfield v Eastbourne Rangers; Crowhurst v Hawkhurst Utd; Herstmonceux v Ninfield Utd II; Little Chelsea v Wittersham.

Division 3: Bexhill Utd III v Visick; Conquest Utd v Herstmonceux II; Eastbourne Athletic v Rock-a-Nore II; Punnetts Town v Northiam 75; St Helens v AFC Hastings.

Division 4: Bexhill AAC II v Peche Hill Select II; Bexhill-On-Sea v Westfield III; FC Bexhill v West Hill Utd; Iden II v Sovereign Saints; Mayfield v St Leonards Social II.

Division 5: Bexhill Rovers v Battle Baptists II; Little Common III v Hailsham Athletico; Ticehurst II v Grasshoppers Old Boys; Victoria Baptists v Herstmonceux III; Wittersham II v Magham Down.

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Division 6: Battle Baptists III v Hampden Park Utd; Hawkhurst Utd II v Catsfield II; Orington II v Sedlescombe Rangers III; Parkfield v Sandhurst II; JC Tackleway II v Robertsbridge Utd II.

Sussex Bluefin Junior Cup, 1st round (2.30): FC Westridge v Racing Palmeira; Old Hastonians v Old Varndeanians II; Wadhurst Utd v Worthing Town II; Windsor v Roffey III.

Hastings & District FA Junior Cup, 1st round (2.30): Bexhill AAC v JC Tackleway; Hollington Utd II v Pebsham Sibex; Sandhurst v Peasmarsh Utd.