Hastings in FA Cup action

Although league form is supposed to go out of the window, Hastings can take heart from the fact that their preliminary round opponents lie second from bottom in Ryman Division One.

While Hastings have accumulated 11 points to sit in sixth position, Croydon have managed just two draws from their opening five fixtures and it didn't appear as though they were going to get anything from their sixth match away to Metropolitan Police on Tuesday night. But trailing 2-0 at half time the floodlights failed and the game had to be abandoned.

Hastings manager Steve Lovell said: "From the club's point of view it would be great to have a run in the FA Cup. They have been great with us this year; I have got the players in I wanted to get in and it would be nice to reward them with a bit of a run. I don't look at how far we can go, I just take each game as it comes.

"It's not going to be easy because Croydon will be thinking the same thing as us, but they won't be relishing it when they look at our record."

Lovell expects to stick with the same XI that started against Dorking on Bank Holiday Monday so, if available, the likes of Jon Wallis, Dexley Fidyk and Steve Ringwood would have to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench.

If the tie on Saturday September 4 ends in a draw the reply would be on Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm. The winners will be at home in the first qualifying round against either Mile Oak or Fareham Town on September 18.