Mac delighted at young Jon's debut

McCreadie said: 'He's a full back and it was his first senior game. He did us proud.'

At the other end of the scale Paul Richardson, who retired through injury, returned and came on as a substitute.

McCreadie said: 'He did us a favour and helped out. He'll turn out for us in an emergency.'

On the debit side McCreadie is worried about Simon Stevens's back problem and suspects he could be out for some time.

The Stringers's boss reckons Hailsham should have been three or four up at half-time against Oakwood but for missed chances and good saves by the goalkeeper.

Town went ahead in the fifth minute with a bizarre own goal. Scott French picked out Danny Leach's diagonal run, the Oakwood goalkeeper spilled the ball and Ian Seale blasted it into his own net under pressure from Peter Cooper.

On 15 minutes French had a 'goal' ruled out for offside, Peter Cooper had an effort cleared off the goalline and Leach missed a sitter.

Lee Wood should have scored in the 50th minute as he rounded Russell Tanner but Matt Smith cleared off the goalline.

Hailsham made it 2-0 on 50 minutes after Lee Barnard was fouled. Martin Richardson took the kick and clipped it over the wall into the top corner.

Oakwood's Liam Buchan then missed from six yards before Phil Marsh blasted home past Tanner with two minutes left.

Hailsham go to Chichester tomorrow, visit Hassocks on Tuesday and then travel to Selsey the following Saturday.

McCreadie said: 'The fixture list is crazy sending us to Chichester and Selsey on successive Saturdays.'

Hailsham: Tanner, Smith, Reeve, Fitzpatrick, Lewis (Early), M Richardson, Jarvis, French (P Richardson), Barnard (Barden), Cooper, Leach.