Frustration for in-form Bexhill

Manager Len Watkins was only informed of the decision - apparently due to maintenance work not being carried out in time at the ground - at 9.30am on the morning of the match and had to frantically ring his players.

The Polegrove supremo was less than impressed by the whole affair. He said: "Everything was done, I'd written all the team sheets and got nicely organised. It was frustrating and I really don't understand why. We were on a roll and things were just coming together. We had two good results on the trot and now we're sitting in the middle of the table when we could have been in the top three. But it may have been a blessing because of the hard ground and we've got a couple of players suspended."

United will hope to push on up that table with three points, pitch fitness permitting, at Lingfield on Saturday September 13. One man who is expected to play a part is former St Leonards player Darren Paine who signed for the club after attending training last week.

Youngster Paine played for the reserves in their 3-2 win at Eastbourne United on Friday night and was pencilled in for a run out at Hurstpierpoint. Watkins continued: "I've never seen him before but I saw enough of him in training to think he's a player I would like to have available." Benjie Symes returns from holiday but Oliver Leigh (knee) remains sidelined.