Big night of football in store

Sam Adams looks to take on an opponent during Hastings United's 2-2 draw with Merstham on Saturday. Picture by Terry S. Blackman

Hastings will host Hythe Town in Ryman Football League Division One South and Rye will visit Eastbourne Town in a twice-postponed Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup third round tie.

Hastings groundsman Simon Rudkins wrote on social network site Twitter last night that he is very confident the game will go ahead and Eastbourne also Tweeted saying their match is expected to be on.

A draw or better against 14th-placed Hythe will move Hastings into the top four. The U’s came from behind to run out 2-1 winners in August’s reverse fixture thanks to a double from substitute Kenny Pogue.

Hastings manager Terry White may consider one or two changes to the side which drew 2-2 at home to Merstham on Saturday, but Matt Darby is still sidelined after dislocating three toes against Walton & Hersham earlier in the month.

Having had 13 of their last 16 scheduled fixtures postponed, Sussex County Football League Division One outfit Rye will be itching to get back in action against Ryman Division One South’s bottom club Eastbourne.

Rye looked like playing for the first time since January 25 on Saturday when their game away to Dorking Wanderers was declared on during the morning, but a subsequent downpour meant it was called-off at the 11th hour.

Both of tonight’s games will kick-off at 7.45pm. The weather, incidentally, is expected to be cloudy but dry for the rest of the day with rain coming in after 10pm.