Hastings are praying Sean Baldock makes a speedy recovery from the virus which forced him to pull out of his first appearance for his hometown club for seven years.

Baldock was being treated in hospital as Hastings slumped to last place - just behind Brighton and Hove City - in their third Southern Men's League division two match at Watford on Saturday.

The result leaves Hastings second-bottom in the table at the halfway point of the season and staring relegation in the face unless the Olympic 400m runner returns to drag them to safety.

Team manager Mark Burgess said: "We had a completely rubbish team because most of our top athletes weren't available. Sean and his brother Steve had a good excuse because they were both in hospital on a drip but the others have to question their commitment.

"The way it looks at the moment we are going down. Hopefully Sean will be okay to run in our final three matches but it is asking a lot for one man to carry a whole team."

Baldock quit British Athletics League champions Belgrave Harriers in the winter to drop six divisions with Hastings. He missed the first two matches of the season as he was warm-weather training with the Great Britian squad in Italy but had hoped to compete at Watford.

His last appearance for Hastings went down in club history as he ran the 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x100m relay and 4x100m relay to clinch promotion to division one.

Burgess added: "We need Sean to do something similar in our remaining matches if we are to stay up but I doubt he will be fit enough to run more than one race in our next match in two weeks."

There were only two Hastings winners on the day with Richard Waterhouse taking the pole vault (3.40m) and Biniam Ande the 5,000m (15min.41.8sec).

Ande, from Eritrea, was also second in the 1,500m (4min.03sec) while John Greater picked up good points by coming second in the triple jump (12.01m) and third in the 110m hurdles (21.1sec) and long jump (5.99m).

Brighton and Hove City are also looking nervously over their shoulders after slipping to 20th in the table less than 12 months after narrowly missing out on promotion to division one.

One of the few highlights was Sam Parsons' victory in the javelin (45.75m) on his return from an ankle injury while he also came second in the 400m hurdles (61.0sec).

The hammer competition provided good points with veteran Bob Willows throwing a season's best 33.08m for second in the A string and 16-year-old Matt Bellenie setting a personal best of 30.11m to come second in the B event.

Brian Brett won the 800m (2min.01.0sec) and Andrew Donno was runner-up in the 3,000m steeplechase (10min.14.3sec).

Gavin Stephens suffered a painful return to the track after a break of two years as Worthing and District Harriers finished an impressive second behind hosts Guildford.

The club 100m record holder showed few signs of rustiness as he came second in the 100m (11.4sec) but then pulled a hamstring in the 4x100m relay before hobbling over the line.

Decathlete Alec Masson piled on the points with victory in the 400m hurdles (62.1sec) and triple jump (12.63m) as well as setting a new personal best for second place in the long jump (6.32m).

Matt Furber did the double in the 800m (2min.01sec) and 1,500m (4min.19.1sec), Matt Dumigan was second in the 3,000m steeplechase on his return from a broken leg and Matt Cheal set personal bests in the 5,000m (17min.26.8sec) and 3,000m steeplechase (11min.26.4sec) on his debut.

Eastbourne Rovers came out on top in the local derby with East Grinstead and Hastings B in division three south, although all three finished well behind match winners Epsom and Ewell at Eastbourne Sports Park.

Horsham Blue Star almost pulled off a shock victory against high-flying Cambridge Harriers in their home match at Broadbridge Heath but had to settle for second place.

Chichester Runners' promotion hopes were ended when they finished last in a tough match behind league leaders Bracknell, hosts Blackheath and a strong Croydon side.

Haywards Heath and Lewes moved into second place in division four south following a thumping victory in their match at Broadbridge Heath.

Worthing B slipped to ninth after finishing last at Dartford while Crawley climbed to 11th as they were runners-up to Herne Hill at Tooting.