Hampton & Richmond Borough have blasted the Conference chiefs who switched the Blue Square South Play-Off Final venue twice in three days.

The Beavers face Eastbourne Borough for a place in the Blue Square National tonight at Stevenage Borough having beaten Fisher Athletic on penalties in Saturday's semi-final second leg.

Supporters were told at that game that the final had been switched from Stevenage's to Ebbsfleet United's ground.

But on Tuesday, it was announced that it has been changed back again, much to the anger of club secretary Les Rance.

He said: "Talk about not knowing what the left and right hands are doing.

"We are now having to talk to the coach companies again, and also hope that supporters who were told it was Ebbsfleet find out about the change of venue.

"What an incompetent shower the people who run the Conference are!"

Football Conference assistant general manager Keirina Rowland insisted the mix-up was unavoidable.

She said: "There was a breakdown in communication with Stevenage, and Ebbsfleet was the contingency plan. But as soon as things were sorted with Stevenage it was moved back there."

Beavers boss Alan Devonshire has no injury worries going into the final, but admits his side will have to beat at their best to beat Eastbourne.

The south coast side were the visitors to Beveree on Hampton's Blue Square South debut back in August and comfortably won 2-0.

Dev said: "I thought then that Eastbourne would be the standard by which we had to set ourselves, and it is somehow fitting that our games with them should be like bookends to our remarkable season.

"They will clearly be the favourites, especially as they have got over their blip and now have all their best play-ers back. But it will also show how far we have developed as a team."

Hampton reached the final by beating Fisher 4-2 on penalties after the second leg was deadlocked at 0-0 after extra-time, tying matters on aggregate too.

Dev added: "We did not play our best, but we hung in there well. You can't expect brilliant football everytime.

"Again, Fisher were clear favourites. But we have proved the doubters wrong every step of the way this season, and we can only hope we get the slice of luck you always need in a cup final.

'Whatever happens, however, I am just so proud of this group of lads who have already given everything and more for Hampton." ..