Hastings off but Rye & Sidley on

The Pilot Field pitch failed a 1pm inspection and the Ryman Football League Premier Division fixture has been called-off due to a waterlogged surface.

United groundsman Simon Rudkins wrote on social network site Twitter: “Should not be losing games to rain but Saturday’s damage just too much to give it a chance for tonight.”

The cancellation means the U’s will have to squeeze in yet another fixture into an already packed calendar. United have 13 league games and a Sussex Senior Cup semi-final to play by Saturday April 27, including six games in 12 days from Easter Saturday.

Only Thurrock, who are one place above United in the final safe spot of third-from-bottom, have played fewer league matches than United, although five other clubs are on the same number.

Any United supporters wanting to catch a game tonight shouldn’t have to travel too far because the Sussex County Football League Division One matches at Rye United and Sidley United are both expected to go ahead.

Sidley United’s game with East Preston (kick-off 7.45pm) is on after the Gullivers pitch passed a lunchtime inspection, while Rye’s visit from Shoreham (kick-off 7.30pm) is also set to get the green light.

Sidley are without a win in their last three league games, while their opponents have barely lost a match since John Lambert’s side knocked them out of the John O’Hara League Cup on penalties way back in November. East Preston’s last league defeat came at the hands of Hassocks in early December.

Eighth-placed Rye will be targeting all three points against fourth-bottom Shoreham and in the process they could do Sidley a favour because the Blues are only one position and one point above Rye’s opponents.

It’s worth pointing out that while Hastings played at home on Saturday, the games at Rye and Sidley were postponed.