Hastings & Common set for action

Matt Darby on the ball for Hastings United against Three Bridges on Saturday. Picture by Simon Newstead

United will travel to Maidstone United in round four of the Ryman League’s Robert Dyas Cup, while Common are away to Eastbourne United AFC in Sussex County League Division Two.

The U’s will be hoping for a repeat of their fine 3-0 victory away to Margate in the previous round of the same competition this time last week when Bailo Camara (2) and Kenny Pogue scored the goals.

But the Ryman Division One South leaders will have their work cut out against a Maidstone side which lies fourth in the Premier Division and only five points behind leaders AFC Hornchurch with three games in hand.

United are expected to field a fairly similar line-up to the Margate game. Some of the substitutes from the weekend league victory over Three Bridges are likely to feature along with a sprinkling of youngsters. Ronnie Dolan, Trevor McCreadie and Tom Vickers are all cup-tied.

Common’s run of three successive league wins, meanwhile, will be put to the test against an Eastbourne outfit which booked its place in the FA Vase last 32 on Saturday by winning away to Combined Counties League Premier Division leaders South Park.

Fourth-placed Common are three points behind second-placed Eastbourne having played three more matches, but came within minutes of winning September’s reverse fixture which ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Both games will kick-off at 7.45pm.