U’s aim to keep pace with leaders

United are currently fourth in Ryman Football League Division One South and trail pacesetters Peacehaven & Telscombe - who they will visit on Easter Monday - by 15 points with a game in hand.

All of United’s next six games are against teams in the bottom eight of the table and assistant boss Ben White says it’s vital they gain a good return from that sequence.

He said: “We’ve got to be looking to get probably round about 15 points out of those games. If we do that, we’re probably cemented in there (the play-off positions).

“But for us it’s more than just nicking a play-off spot; it’s about keeping in there with Peacehaven for as long as we can. Our aim is to go into that match (against Peacehaven) still in it; then we can have a go at them. We don’t want to be going to Peacehaven out of it.

“Our next aim is to finish as high in the table as possible because it will give us the home advantage in the play-offs.”

United are 11 points behind second-placed Leatherhead having played two fewer matches going into the trip to Walton & Hersham today (Saturday). Kenny Pogue is back in the fold, while Tim Olorunda will return when he’s ready following the death of his father.

TODAY’S FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(Kick-off 3pm unless stated)

Ryman League, Division 1 South: Walton & Hersham v Hastings Utd.

Sussex County League, Division 1: Rye Utd v Hassocks.

Division 2: Bexhill Utd v Steyning Town; Little Common v Mile Oak; Saltdean Utd v Westfield.

Reserve Section (East): Westfield v Little Common.

National Christian Cup quarter-final (2.30): Battle Baptists v Community Solutions.

ADA East Sussex League, Premier Division: Iden v Rock-a-Nore; Ore Athletic v Ticehurst; Peche Hill Select v Hollington Utd; Robertsbridge Utd v St Leonards Social.

Division 1: Crowborough Athletic III v Orington; Icklesham Casuals v Mountfield Utd; Sandhurst v Langney Wanderers II.

Division 2: Eastbourne Rangers v Catsfield; Ninfield Utd II v Wadhurst Utd; JC Tackleway v Hawkhurst Utd; Windsor v Little Chelsea.

Division 3: Bexhill Utd III v Old Hastonians; Conquest Utd v Rock-a-Nore II; Eastbourne Athletic v AFC Hastings; Herstmonceux II v St Helens; Northiam 75 v Visick; Pebsham Sibex v Punnetts Town.

Division 4: Bexhill-On-Sea v Peche Hill Select II; Burwash v FC Bexhill; Peasmarsh Utd v Westfield III; Sovereign Saints v Iden II; St Leonards Social II v West Hill Utd.

Division 5: Bexhill Rovers v Wittersham II; Hailsham Athletico v Magham Down; Sedlescombe Rangers II v Herstmonceux III; Ticehurst II v Battle Baptists II; Victoria Baptists v Little Common III.

Division 6: Battle Baptists III v JC Tackleway II; Hawkhurst Utd II v Sandhurst II; Orington II v Robertsbridge Utd II; Parkfield v Hampden Park Utd; Sedlescombe Rangers III v FC Westridge.

Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup (2.30), quarter-final: Hollington Utd II v Bexhill AAC. Semi-final: Wittersham v Sedlescombe Rangers.

Eastbourne Coach Finishers Challenge Cup semi-final (2.30): Grasshoppers Old Boys v Catsfield II.