UNITED ARE TEETERING

UNITED are dicing with immediate relegation after going six games without a win. Manager Ian Browne has now called on his club to heed the message of their slither from mid-table, and on his players to dig them out of trouble in their last two fixtures.

United are at Rye & Iden United on Saturday then at home to Eastbourne United Asssociation a week later on April 30, the final day of the season.

Browne warned: "Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call for the club after our promotion last season. We've taken the club on to another level but the club must go on to that level too. I feel a bit let down and the team have felt a little isolated.

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"Over the season we've played well but individual errors have cost us and I've not had the resources to bring in replacement players I've needed while our Reserves, although winning promotion this season, contain players '” such as Colin Moss, Shane Moses and Jordan Rhodes '” who I'd like to pick but who can't travel because of work commitments.

"We've now got two very difficult games and we've got to get something out of them or else it could got down to the last day and we could be waiting on other results. No one's gone down with 41 points but this time 41 may not be enough.

"I'm hoping for all the players' attitudes and commitment that it needs. I need all of them to bring their No 1 game and to prepare properly mentally and physically."

One omen Browne says he spots is that in management he has yet to beat Eastbourne UA.

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United and Sidley United top the bottom pile. Sidley, having lost 1-0 at home to Whitehawk on Tuesday have the same 41 points and are two clear of chasing Chichester, Southwick and East Grinstead.

Browne sees Sidley's task as just as difficult. On Saturday they again meet Whitehawk, who are vying with Rye for runners-up, this time away, and Sidley conclude a week later away to Three Bridges.

Of the chasing three, Chichester go to Redhill, play Horsham in the Brighton Charity Cup Final, then are at home to Three Bridges. Troubled Southwick have one game left, at home to Eastbourne Town on the final day. East Grinstead are at home to Eastbourne UA on Tuesday, then go to already-relegated Sidlesham on the concluding Saturday '” but Sidlesham shocked Whitehawk 1-0 on Saturday.

RUR Cup holders and Sussex Senior Cup Finalists, Ringer proved superior at Worthing United on Saturday. They won 4-1 although the score did not reflect United's share of possession. United's midfield were outplayed but they hit a post at 0-0 before slumping 3-0 down. Joe Shelley failed from seven yards at 2-0 and Browne hit an effort inches wide at 3-0.

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Steve Pickles' reply was his second goal this season and his first since September 11. Striker Dave Schneider returned to action, however, since injury on February 9 at Littlehampton. In his absence, United have won only twice in their 11 starts.

Strong and versatile Teessider, Lee Bone, misses the trip to Rye.

UNITED: Swietlik; Brown, Bone, Pickles, Keech; N.Shelley, J.Shelley, Webb; Banks, Schneider, Browne. Subs: Footman (Webb 55), Texteira (Schneider 75), Fuller gk. Att 44.