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
