U’s set for senior cup test

Action from the league meeting between Burgess Hill Town and Hastings United back in August. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

The U’s will entertain all-conquering Burgess Hill Town in round three of the Parafix Sussex Senior Challenge Cup tonight (Monday). Kick-off at The Pilot Field is 7.45pm.

Burgess Hill have enjoyed a phenomenal first half of the season. The Hillians are second in Ryman Football League Division One South having won 16 and drawn five of their first 21 matches, and are just a point behind leaders Merstham with six games in hand.

In fact, the mid-Sussex club has lost just once in all competitions - away to Dartford in FA Cup fourth round qualifying. The Hillians also pulled off a stunning victory away to Conference Premier club Aldershot Town in the FA Trophy nine days ago.

United are 16 places and 25 points adrift of their opponents - who beat them 4-1 in the league during August - but will go into the tie buoyed by their 2-0 league victory at Herne Bay on Saturday.

The winners, incidentally, will be away to Steyning Town or Worthing in the quarter-finals following Saturday evening’s draw, which was broadcast by BBC Sussex and on Twitter.

In the other ties, Whitehawk will entertain Crawley Town, Lewes will host Eastbourne Borough and Chichester City will be at home to Loxwood. Fixtures are to be played on or before Wednesday January 21.