Garry Wilson has praised keeper Paul Stark's progress since filling the gap for regular No. 1 Dean Lightwood at Eastbourne Borough.

Wilson said of the former Eastbourne Town keeper: "He has done very well after settling in and getting to know everyone.

"In the last three games he has played better and better and shown what he can do."

While there is praise for Stark, who kept a cleansheet in the 3-0 victory over Hastings Town on Boxing Day after producing two fantastic saves from Duncan McArthur and Tony Burt in the final stages, Wilson has great sympathy for Lightwood who is out with a lingering thigh injury.

He said: "Dean did superbly for the first six-to-nine months with us but after that he has been plagued by injuries.

"It is terrible for him as he is a smashing lad and I feel really sorry for him. He worked ever so hard to get fit in pre-season but has just been unlucky."

Wilson hopes to have Matt Smart back in the next two weeks, especially with the FA Trophy trip to Dagenham and Redbridge looming on the horizon in a fortnight.

"He has a knee ligament problem but it isn't major and he could be back in a week or two," said Wilson.

COUNTY League Division Three side Hurstpierpoint have signed striker Ian Barber from Upper Beeding.

Barber's elder brother Steve recently left Beeding for Pease Pottage.