Back injury forces Paul to retire

McCreadie said: 'He'll be a hard act to follow after his performances over the years for this club but I'm sure that my new captain Russell Tanner will take full responsibility.

'The match against Whitehawk was really good, with play going from 18-yard box to 18-yard box.

'Whitehawk are the best footballing side we've played in this division yet. They're physical and it was a good battle, if we finish above Whitehawk I think we'll win the league.'

McCreadie was not happy with the performance of referee Robert Wilkins. He said: 'He gave us a penalty that wasn't but then didn't send their player off when he elbowed Eddie Koboah.'

What angered McCreadie was that Koboah had been booked for an innocuous challenge before he was left flat out by an Andy Beach elbow.

It was Whitehawk's Ian Chapman who was left fuming in the 75th minute when Toby Phillips could do little to avoid Danny Leach's ball into the penalty area but was adjudged to have handled and a spotkick was awarded. Leach fired it home.

Whitehawk had taken the lead when Ryan McBride beat two men in the penalty area before slotting past Jon Purdey.

McCreadie says Hailsham will treat third division Haywards Heath with every respect when they come to The Beaconsfield tomorrow in the first round of the FA Vase. Steve Hunt is struggling with an ankle injury.

Hailsham: Purdey, Hunt (French), Barden, M Richardson, Reeve, P Richardson, Lewis, Stevens, Leach, Jarvis, Koboah.