After defeat at South Park (Reigate) just 3 days before, a reaction was imminent amongst the Hastings players and what better way to get back to playing on home soil against Burgess Hill Town in the second round of the Sussex Senior Cup against an opposition team including former Hastings players Ben Pope and more recently Brad Barry. Ronnie Dolan made two changes to the starting eleven from the South Park game with Joe Clifford and Kesna Clarke coming in for Archie Cassidy and Warren Hughes-Mfula.
First half:
Attacking The Steve Smith Stand the atmosphere amongst the Hastings fans was behind the twelfth man and their noise almost paid off when an inswinging Hastings free kick was headed over the crossbar from Kesna Clarke who had the first opportunity for Hastings on the evening.
A risky pass from The Hillians in their own half saw Freddie Legg capitalise on the loose ball and after getting a quick shot away having turned away from his man saw his effort go wide of the post.
With both teams playing frantic at times struggling to maintain possession of the ball, the visitors responded before half-time with two efforts of their own – the first being a header in similar fashion to Kesna Clarke’s and not troubling Harry Haines whilst a throw in down the left at the far end of the pitch saw the ball headed out to the edge of the box and a first time strike went over the crossbar.
The Hillians were also forced into making two first half substitutes due to two injuries – the second being made ten minutes before half time and not would have been what the visitors would have been hoping for on the evening. A goalless first half with neither keeper forced into making one save and opportunities between far and few.
Second half:
No changes made for either side at half-time as Hastings were now attacking The Cole Warren Stand, Freddie Legg almost gave the home fans something to cheer about when a free kick from Harry Haines was headed on and with the ball falling to Legg, his first time shot whistled past the post going narrowly wide.
It did not take long until the deadlock was eventually broken and just over the hour mark, Hastings got a corner on the far right, and with Tom Chalmers making a run to the near post, he glanced a low header into the bottom corner guiding it with such precision which beat Rocco Rees in the Burgess Hill Town goal leaving The Hillians No.1 rooted to the spot.
With The Hillians, still showing signs of creating openings, and with very little to do in the Hastings goal – Harry Haines was still having a fairly quiet evening and it looked as though Hastings would have been heading into the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup.
Max Walsh had an effort for Hastings which went behind for a goal kick and with a Burgess Hill Town corner being scrambled away by the Hastings defence, United went on the attack down the other end of the pitch and second half substitute Delwin Duah beat two players before getting a shot away with a strike which was gathered by Rees in the Burgess Hill Town goal With the five additional minutes almost up, some quick thinking by Rees resulted in one final attack for The Hillians and with the visitors moving the ball around the Hastings penalty box – a low shot from Jake King with the last kick off the game sent the tie to penalties after finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Harry Haines produced the first save off the shootout keeping out Ben Pope and with Hastings converting their first 3 out of 3 penalties, Brad Barry was tasked with keeping The Hillians hopes alive in the competition, and after dragging his penalty wide of the post, the Hastings players celebrated in emphatic fashion with the fans as the U’s take their place in the 3rd round of the Sussex Senior Cup.
Match Report: Tom Dyson-Laurie
Looking ahead at the coming weeks fixtures the U’s
𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 6/10 (Home)
Mens First Team v Burgess Hill
Sussex Senior Cup
KO 19:45
£6 Entry and £5 – GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE
𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 6/10 (Away)
Lordswood AFC v U23’s
KO 19:45
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 10/10 (Away)
Sheppey v Mens First Team
League
KO 15:00
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 -11/10 (Home)
U18’s v Littlehampton
Sussex County Cup
KO 10:30
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 -11/10 (Away)
Leatherhead v Womens First Team
League Cup
KO 13:00
#COYU
We are delighted to announce that The Deluxe Bingo & The Palace Arcade, owned by The Godden Gaming Organisation, have continued their valued support of Hastings United FC as Platinum Partners for the forthcoming season.
🔵⚪ The Deluxe Bingo & The Palace Arcade Continue as Platinum Partners ⚪🔵
The support of local businesses such as The Deluxe Bingo & The Palace Arcade is invaluable to our football club, helping us to continue developing the game on and off the pitch across our men’s, women’s, youth, disability and community programmes. The club is incredibly grateful for their ongoing commitment to supporting both local football and the wider Hastings community.
The Godden Gaming Organisation successfully reopened the iconic Deluxe Bingo at Pelham Place in June 2025 following a major refurbishment. The venue now offers daily bingo sessions from Thursday to Monday, providing a friendly atmosphere, exciting prizes and all the fun of traditional bingo. There is also a downstairs gaming centre featuring a wide selection of casino slots and classic gaming machines for customers to enjoy at any time of the day or night.
The Deluxe plays an integral role in the wider Hastings community, not only through its support of Hastings United FC but also by raising funds for St Michael’s Hospice, making a real difference to local causes and organisations.
Please join us in thanking everyone at The Godden Gaming Organisation for their fantastic support and wishing them continued success with both The Deluxe Bingo and The Palace Arcade.
💙 Thank you for backing the U’s!
To Find out more visit: Experience Daily Bingo & Slots At The Deluxe, Hastings and Welcome to Palace Amusements | UK’s No.1 Gaming Venues
#COYU #HastingsUnited #SupportOurSponsors #GoddenGaming #DeluxeBingo #PalaceArcade #CommunityPartner #PlatinumPartner #BackingTheUs
At Hastings United FC, we’re proud to support our local community, and we’re inviting supporters to help make a difference by donating food items for our chosen charity of the year, Hastings Food Bank.
📦 Support Your Community at The Pilot Field 💙
Whenever you’re visiting The Pilot Field, you can bring along non-perishable food donations and place them in our designated collection point.
🥛 One Simple Item Can Make a Big Difference 💙
We recently spoke with Nathan at Hastings Foodbank and asked if there was one item that our supporters could donate that is always in demand.
The answer was simple: UHT Milk 🥛 If you’re attending a match or visiting The Pilot Field, please consider bringing a carton of UHT milk and placing it in our food bank collection point. This essential item is regularly needed and can make a real difference to local individuals and families facing hardship.
Other items are also welcomed such as:
🥫 Tinned goods
🍝 Pasta and rice
☕ Tea and coffee
🥣 Breakfast cereals
🍪 Biscuits and snacks
🧴 Toiletries and hygiene products are always greatly appreciated.
Football is about more than what happens on the pitch. Together, as the Hastings United family, we can support those in our community who need it most.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a big difference. 💛
#COYU #HastingsUnited #CommunitySpirit #SupportingOurCommunity #FoodBankCollection #PilotField
CROWBOROUGH 2-2 (3-1 PENS) HASTINGS
Having already beaten Crowborough Athletic on home soil this season 4-3 and playing the hosts at the early stage of the competition this time last year – Hastings United went into Tuesday’s game looking to continue their fine run of form.
Ringing the changes from Saturday’s FA Trophy win against Dulwich Hamlet, saw ten changes being made to the starting eleven with only Delwin Duah starting back to back games whilst other first team players, Trevor McCreadie, Ayo Olasimbo, Warren Mfula and Emmanuel Abudiore also got a start.
First half:
Both teams made a lively start to the game playing at a fast pace. Former Hastings player Finley Chapman was causing all sorts of problems down the left wing and after a few teasing balls into the Hastings penalty box, it was important Hastings were switched on to his deliveries.
After the result of a Hastings free kick ended up in the side netting, Warren Mfula had the first attempt on target reacting quickest to a flick on before driving inside the penalty box and getting a shot away with forced a save from the Charlie Holmwood in the Crowborough goal and went behind for another set piece.
This time the U’s took their second bite at the cherry with Delwin Duah opening his account for Hastings, heading the ball into the bottom corner of the Crowborough goal and putting Hastings1-0 up. Crowborough responded with a long ball which caught out the two Hastings centre back’s and with Rushaar Samuel-Smickle controlling the ball and looking to get a shot away, he delayed
shooting and instead played a cross field pass out to Fin Chapman who cut in on his right foot with his effort flashing narrowly wide of the left hand post.
That gave Hastings a wake up call as moments later, a risky pass from just outside the Hastings penalty box saw the U’s in trouble, only for captain on the evening Ollie Palmer to produce a superb recovery tackle and deny an equaliser before half-time.
Down the Hastings left and the lively Olasimbo was giving the Crowborough right back a run for his money with his movement and speed on and off the ball and having already seen quite a bit of the ball, he was unfortunate not to double the U’s lead after managing to bring the ball forward from a counter attack and upon entering the penalty box and getting a shot away was denied at the last second by the Crowborough goalkeeper.
Crowborough were still pursuing an equaliser and with a shot coming off a Hastings player and then having a free kick blocked, it was certain there would be more to come in the second half.
Second half:
From one end of the pitch to the other, and a Hastings attack got halted in the Crowborough half and after a passage of play in the middle third, the ball was pulled back for Finlay Nwanosike to strike a low effort from just outside the penalty box into the bottom corner levelling up the score.
Hastings came forward down the left with Mfula managing to find Olasimbo with some impressive improvisation on the overlap, and with Olasimbo playing the ball across the penalty box, all that was needed was for a player in white to be there and put the ball away.
United went forward again with Olasimbo combining with Mfula with the latter then playing in Blaise Uwandji who pulled the ball back to Mfula but a rolled effort at goal was easy for Holmwood in the Crowborough goal to gather.
After a period of quietness in the Hastings half, Crowborough then started to pile on immense pressure with an attack down the Hastings left saw the ball being played across to the outside of the penalty box and a calm and copy first time finish from Finlay Nwanosike saw a replication of what he did earlier but this time putting The Crows 2-1 up.
Further pressure was being put on Hastings who were under a spell of dominance at a free header
from Brady Ayoola was caught by the Hastings goalkeeper who then had to be alert to a low shot
which had some power behind the ball only to then react quickest to not one but two strikes from
close range, before pulling off an impressive low one handed save to keep the ball out from a Fin
Chapman shot that was nestling for the bottom corner.
Another goal was certainly coming and after a lengthy period of having not seen the ball or
holding onto it for a while – Ayo Olasimbo found some wriggle room down the left before cutting
inside and getting a shot away going narrowly wide after beating two players.
Crowborough would have been ruing some of the chances they did not put away at 2-1 as they were eventually made to pay the price eleven minutes from normal time when Hastings went on an attack down the right, and a cross went over the head of the Crowborough captain Jack Mayhew only for Ayo Olasimbo to be in the right place at the time time. This time, after pulling the ball back inside the penalty box, there were plenty of players from both teams in there and a strike went into the bottom corner from another first ever Hastings goalscorer on the evening – this time Emmanuel Abudiore levelled up the game.
The action was far from over with Crowborough going on one last attack which resulted in one
last attack for both teams – Jonathan Saunders in the Hastings goal keeping out a low shot before
Ayo Olasimbo played in Warren Mfula who placed his shot into the side netting.
United almost won the game with virtually the last kick after one final attack in the Crowborough
half saw Emmanuel Abudiore have a quick glance up and attempted to catch the keeper off his
line with a dipped effort which only the slightest of fingertips denied him scoring his second and
giving Hastings a win at the death.
2-2 at Full time and so the game was decided by a penalty shoot out. With the first two Hastings penalties saved before Ayo Olasimbo scoring Hastings’s only penalty on the evening, Hastings were eventually defeated 3-1 on penalties.
A hard fought performance from a new look Hastings team on the evening however attention turns back to league matters this Saturday with a big game for Hastings who take on South Park away from home before facing Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday evening for the start of the Sussex Senior Cup.
Match Report: Tom Dyson-Laurie
The club happy to be able to confirm that Dane Martin has officially accepted the offer of life membership at Hastings United Football Club.
Following over 15 years of hard work in many different roles including Club Secretary, Bar Manager, Kit man and match day physio the club is proud to have been able to recognise Dane with the offer of a life membership for the dedication and care he has shown and continues to show week after week.
Co Chairman Dean White said ‘’ The club has been very fortunate to have someone as hard working and conscientious as Dane doing so much on its behalf. His expertise, knowledge, passion and commitment both on and off the field is absolutely invaluable. Moving forward I have no doubt that Dane will be someone who will play a huge part in the clubs future and will have a key role in our growth and success at The Pilot Field ‘’
Looking ahead at the coming weeks fixtures the U’s
𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 29/09 (Away) – KO 19:45
Crowborough Athletic Football Club v Mens First Team
Velocity Trophy
𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 29/09 (Away) – KO 19:30
AFC Greenwich Borough v U18’s
Velocity Trophy
𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 01/10 (Away) – KO 19:45
Lydd Town v U23’s
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 03/10 (Away) – KO 15:00
South Park (Reigate) v Men’s First Team
Pitching In Isthmian League
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 04/10 (Hollington United) – KO 11:00
U18’s v AFC Uckfield Town
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 04/10 (Away) – KO 15:30
Womens First Team v Ashmount Leigh
London and South East Regional Women’s Football League
#COYU
The club thrilled to be able to confirm the Hayley Clout has been officially confirmed as a new club Vice President.
Having first joined the club in the summer of 2015 as our Commercial Manager, after 4 successful years in that role Hayley was appointed to the club board of directors and has overseen many key responsibilities since that time, including the hosting of our sponsors and business partners on match days, liaising with local charities and community groups as well as working closely with Jake Daniels to ensure our young mascots and their families enjoy their Pilot Field experience on a match day.
Hayley continues to work very hard as part of our Commercial team and has recently taken on the role of boardroom manager.
Co-Chairman David Ormerod said ‘’Having originally interviewed Hayley back in 2015 I am not surprised at the positive impact she has had at the club over the last decade and I am absolutely delighted that she has decided to accept the role of Vice President at Hastings United’’
Looking ahead at the coming weeks fixtures the U’s
𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 22/09 (Away) – KO 19:45
Sittingbourne v Mens First Team
Pitching In Isthmian League
𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 24/09 (Home) – KO 19:45
U18 v Lewes
Cup
𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 26/09 (Home) – KO 15:00
Mens First Team v Dulwich Hamlet
FA Trophy
TICKETS ~ hufc.onlineticketseller.com/events/178049
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 27/09 (Away) – KO 11:00
Eastbourne Borough v U18
League
𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬 – 27/09 (Away) – KO 15:30
Eastbourne Borough v Womens First Team
London and South East Regional Women’s Football League
Hastings United FC would like to say a huge thank you to GA Fabrications for their continued support of the club and their sponsorship of our women’s team warm up and training wear.
Based on a reputation for quality, reliability and outstanding customer service, GA Fabrications specialise in bespoke metal fabrication solutions for a wide range of industries. Their commitment to delivering high-quality workmanship, clear communication and custom-made solutions has made them a trusted partner for businesses across the South East and beyond.
We are incredibly grateful to have local businesses like GA Fabrications in our corner, supporting the ambitions of Hastings United FC and helping us build for the future.
Please join us in thanking Andy and Gareth from GA Fabrications for their fantastic support and, if you’re looking for expert metal fabrication services, be sure to check them out: www.gafabricationsltd.co.uk
#COYU
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