HADLEIGH United manager Stuart Crawford has promised to make changes to his side as they attempt to arrest their woeful FA Cup record today.

The Brettsiders have only ever won FA Cup tie – a 1-0 victory over Southall in a preliminary round tie way back in 1995/96.

Crawford was disappointed by his side’s display in their 3-0 defeat at home to Brantham on Tuesday night in the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League.

This afternoon they travel across the border into Essex to face fellow Ridgeons League side Stanway Rovers, who 24 hours later lost 6-2 at home to Felixstowe & Walton United, in the extra preliminary round.

Crawford said: “I was not happy with the way we played against Brantham, and I will shake things up for the weekend. There will definitely be changes to the team.

“Stanway are a good team and their ground is always a difficult place to go, but it could go either way – it depends on whether we turn up or not.”

Crawford’s cause has not been helped by the loss of centre forward Josh Mayhew, who has rejoined Woodbridge Town after just one season at The Millfield, after spending pre-season on trial at Needham Market.

Ben Deacon, his strike partner last season, has been on holiday and Alan Ross, signed in the summer from Walsham-le-Willows, could be out longer than first thought if his injury is diagnosed as cruciate ligament damage.

“We have lost Josh and Ben Deacon has been away for over a month, so we have lost 45 goals from last season.

“We offered Josh the best deal we possibly could before the end of last season. I told him to prove to me he was the best striker in the league and then move up in a year’s time, but he turned that down because he wanted to go to Needham Market on trial.

“He trained with us last Thursday and I said I was still keen to have him back, but on slightly less money than last year as we have since used the budget to bring in players like Alan Ross and so could not offer him the same deal as before,” he explained.