Sidley banking on Vase repeat

The Blues visit Croydon in the prestigious national competition tomorrow (Saturday) knowing that victory will see them repeat their runs to the third round in 2005 and 1998.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "I'm quite looking forward to it and I think the players are because it's a chance to progress in a national competition."

Success in South London would be quite an achievement for a United side which has lost its last two games to sit 14th in Sussex Division One.

Croydon are sixth in the equivalent-standing Kent Premier Division on the back of winning four and drawing two of their last six matches.

Laskey continued: "We've had them watched a couple of times and we know we will have to be on top of our game to get a result."

Sidley are hopeful that key man Peter Baker (knee) will be fit, while strike partner Scott McDonald (calf) and Darren Witham should shake off niggles.

Mickey O'Callaghan and Adam Day will return and there's a chance Nick Whiteman may be fit, but Paul Henty (back) is doubtful and Peter Newstead (hamstring) is definitely out.

In the event of the game finishing all-square, replay arrangements will be announced on the club's newsline number 221126. Any rematch would take precedence over the scheduled league visit of Eastbourne United Association on Tuesday.

United were hoping to tie up the signings of former players Lewis Parsons and Mark Funnell this week.

Bexhill United will hope to arrest a sequence of seven fixtures without a win away to Loxwood in the Sussex Division Three Challenge Cup tomorrow.

Brothers Grant and Scott Fitzgerald are expected to return, but Dave Carey is suspended for the first round trip.

Fellow Division Three outfit Little Common will seek to make it five cup wins out of five at home to East Sussex Premier Division side Ticehurst tomorrow.

The in-form Commoners will field a similar side for the Robertsbridge Charity Cup first round tie, although Ben Eldridge (ankle) may return. Kick-off is at 1.30pm.

Common duo Tim Bigg and Chris Steward, plus Bexhill's Richard Anderson were part of a 16-man Sussex Division Three representative squad due to take on the Kent County League in the Tom Stabler Trophy at Tunbridge Wells FC on Wednesday night.