First signing for new player/boss

Nineteen-year-old defender Matt Whitehead, pictured effecting a tackle, has joined the U’s after deciding to leave Ryman Division One South promotion candidates Bognor Regis Town.

Despite featuring in all of Bognor’s first 17 games this season, Whitehead is eligible for United’s Sussex Senior Cup second round tie at home to Lancing tonight (Tuesday), kick-off 7.45pm.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion youngster, who played for England at under-18 level, didn’t play in Bognor’s Sussex Senior Cup clash away to Rye United last Wednesday and therefore isn’t cup-tied.

Ryman Premier Division outfit United will be gunning for a fourth successive victory against Sussex County League Division One side Lancing with a trip to Ryman Division One South strugglers Crawley Down up for grabs.

It will be Lancing’s first visit to The Pilot Field in almost exactly 10 years. A Landry Zahana-Oni hat-trick helped Hastings Town, as the club was then known, to a crushing 8-0 victory that night.

Elsewhere tonight, Sidley United will be eager to put their weekend disappointment behind them when they entertain Shoreham in Sussex Division One. Kick-off at Gullivers is 7.45pm.

The Blues were beaten 2-0 away to then basement boys Chichester City on Saturday and boss John Lambert will be demanding an improvement from what he described as a “woeful” display.

Callum McDonald and Adam Day may return for Sidley against a Shoreham side which lies third-bottom. Sidley scraped home 4-3 in last month’s reverse fixture thanks to a stoppage time winner from Carl Morris.

Results and scorers will appear on this website tonight.