Whitehawk will be without the services of new signing John Byrne for their home clash with Leatherhead in the preliminary round of the FA Cup tomorrow.

The County League side failed to secure former finalist Byrne's signature in time to register him for the clash against the Ryman division two outfit.

His absence is a blow to Hawks manager Ian Chapman, who played with the former Republic of Ireland World Cup striker at Albion.

Byrne's experience would have been invaluable against opponents who have enjoyed successful FA Cup exploits themselves.

He was a finalist with Sunderland in 1992 when he scored in every round to help the Black Cats to Wembley.

Byrne also scored a last-gasp header in the Seagulls' 2-2 draw at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round a year earlier.

Chapman said: "It's unfortunate. We thought he'd be all right to play because he join us last Saturday. But apparently signings have to be seven working days in advance. We'll miss him, but it shouldn't be a problem. We will be underdogs and I don't mind that.

"Leatherhead play in a higher league than us but I try not to worry about the other side. If we can have a good cup run then we'll make money and that is good for the club."

Ringmer's preparations for their Cup game at Hastings were thrown into disarray following an horrific injury to goalkeeper Jamie Bryant. Bryant, 26, was carried off in Monday's 3-2 defeat to Arundel and midfielder Kevin Townsend had to go in goal.

Bryant will be out for at least three months after tearing knee ligaments and will undergo an x-ray for a suspected broken leg.

Chairman Richard Soan said: "I have never heard a player scream before and it was horrible to hear him screaming until he was put in the ambulance. There was nothing anyone could do for him."

Following their first defeat of the season, Glen Geard's side will field 16-year-old rookie Sam Figg in goal against Dr Martens eastern division Hastings.

Ringmer applied to the FA for special dispensation so they could bring in a new keeper at short notice but it was rejected.

Hastings coach Terry White is confident his team can progress at the expense of the Blues.

He said: "It's very important for money and prestige for us to do well. It's a very difficult first game, I've heard they are not a bad side.

"But at home we should be okay. We've had them watched and hopefully we can exploit any weaknesses."

Hastings be unbeaten in the league but White insists the team are still searching for the winning formula.

He said: "We are not quite functioning right. We did it at Tonbridge for 60 minutes and we were terrific. We've got ten points out of 12 so we have to be happy. But we need to work a little bit on our movement and our patterns of play. We haven't got Chris Honey at the moment and we've got to get a bit more craft in our play."

Burgess Hill manager Gary Croydon is in bullish mood for tomorrow's trip to Tooting and Mitcham after the thumping 6-0 win over Lymington and New Milton last week.

Manager Gary Croydon said: "We are ready to have a real go at Tooting and Mitcham and looking forward to the game.

"They are Ryman League division one and were on the top so it won't be easy but we are going there to give them a game."

Croydon is still pinching himself after his side beat last season's Jewson Wessex League runners-up 6-0 in Hampshire, having survived a frustrating five-hour journey caught in Bank Holiday traffic.

He said: "It was one of those days where everything on the field went right. They got an absolute spanking."

He added: "It's nice things are going so well so early in the season.

"I am very pleased we are hitting a high early on. In my two other seasons we have got off to a slow start and then strung together long runs after Christmas.

"My three new signings, Gary Callingham, Tim Brown and Steve Harper, have all knitted well into last season's squad."