Hassocks have suffered a blow with Neil Smith ruled out for an indefinite period.

Centre-back Smith has been suffering with a back injury and although he came through 45 minutes in his first comeback game, his next attempt ended in agony.

Robins boss Dave John said: "I think Neil could be out for sometime. I don't know how long as backs are funny things to predict.

"We will miss him as he is a quality player and possibly the best centre half in the league."

Kevin Cox has a bruised jaw and misses this week's game with Arundel.

Another win for the Robins would push them closer towards the championship chasing pack but John is playing down his side's chances.

He said: "It is concerning me a bit that people are beginning to say we could do this or we can do that. I think we have too much to do with the amount of games we have to play."

KELLY QUEST Redhill are hoping to follow the signing of Worthing goalkeeper Matthew May with the capture of striker Matt Kelly from Worthing United.

A seven-day approach has been made for former Burgess Hill frontman Kelly as Redhill manager Russell Mason looks to strengthen his squad.

May, meanwhile, joined the club this week in an arrangement which has seen Lee Preston move in the opposite direction.

Mason said: "Lee is an ambitious goalkeeper. He was quite reluctant to go because he likes playing under me but he is ambitious and I said he should try to play as higher level as he can."

A seven-day approach has also been made for goalkeeper Paul Rogers, who only joined Ringmer last week from Bognor.

TIP-TOP SCOTT Littlehampton are hoping teenage target man Scott Tipper could prove a real find after being plucked from youth team football in Shoreham.

Marigolds boss Andy Taylor said: "He is about 6ft and scored a lot of goals at youth level so we are keen to have a look at him."

Jonas Templeman is likely to miss the next fortnight after breaking a toe at work.

But Derren Woods and Carl Lloyd will return from bans for Tuesday's RUR Cup quarter-final at Horsham YMCA, providing today's match at Whitehawk went ahead.

Taylor has made an approach for Lancing midfielder Gary Hall.

PEAK PRACTICE Peacehaven manager Peter Edwards is refusing to get carried away by his side's recent run.

After Saturday's victory at Shoreham, rival boss Roger Brace declared the display as "the best 45 minutes of football I have seen this season".

The 4-2 win was a third successive triumph for Peacehaven and their fifth victory in six matches.

But Edwards said: "We have turned things round with three wins in a row. It is the first time we have put a run together this season. But nothing will be decided, promotion wise, until the last three weeks of the season.

"We have slowly improved and it is about peaking at the right time and, hopefully, we can continue to do that."

BALL AND PAIN Sidley United's Owen Ball only lasted two minutes when he returned from injury in midweek for the game against Saltdean.

Ball suffered a recurrence of a hamstring problem and is again ruled out of action, however, boss Dickie Day's injury and unavailability crisis has eased with Dave Ward, Jimmy Watson, Wayne Farrier and Paul Balch all back.