There was only one United that showed up on Tuesday evening. With Hastings United heading into their penultimate pre-season game of 2026 away from home, they produced a performance full of intensity, quality and purpose.
First half:
Having already been on the receiving end a few times in pre-season conceding first, it was Hastings who got off to a flying start. Within the first 30 seconds and a high press from trialist A saw him win the ball off an Eastbourne United centre back and with a quick spin, managed to get a shot away low into the bottom corner struck with some power.
Despite gaining territory in the Hastings half, Eastbourne rarely troubled Harry Haines in the Hastings goal until a clever bit of play from an Eastbourne player in the Hastings penalty box saw him not touch the ball until Ollie Black got near him. With the Eastbourne player going down, the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and James Hull’s spot kick was kept out by Haines who dived to his bottom left.
The save gave Hastings a rocket boost as United doubled their lead shortly after as some patient passing from Hastings who more or less kept the ball along the deck all game with some sharp movement all round resulted in a well deserved second. Once again, trialist A received the ball and outmuscled his opponent with ease turning him on a sixpence, replicating what he did with his first goal, adding his second and Hastings’s second.
Two became three when an Eastbourne free kick inside the Hastings half was intercepted by some pressure and Tom Chalmers drove forward with the ball some distance before having a quick look up and finding trialist A who was in the right place at the right time to add his third before the half and a third for the U’s.
With an Eastbourne corner headed out to the edge of the box which saw a shot come through a crowd of players and gathered by Haines, the Hastings no.1 will have been pleased to have ended the first half with a clean sheet.
In similar fashion to the first goal, Hastings were far from done, and after a short pass out from the back by the Eastbourne goalkeeper, some dilly dallying saw trialist A press high to intercept and with all the time in the world, he composed himself and placed the ball into the top corner giving the Eastbourne goalkeeper no chance scoring his fourth before the half could even draw to a close.
With Callum Barlow at the other end, trying to wriggle his way past two Hastings defenders before getting a shot away, there was not much power behind it at which point the referee blew for half-time.
4-0 at half-time and a very disciplined performance from Hastings in all areas on the pitch.
Second half:
Holding onto their 4-0 lead, Hastings nearly added a fifth early on. Max Walsh had an effort which bounced in front of the Eastbourne goalkeeper who parried it away to safety.
Joe Clifford was also pushing higher up the pitch and received the ball inside the Eastbourne penalty box but was denied from getting a shot away at the last second by a combination of last-ditch defending and goalkeeping.
Some good link up play between Tom Chalmers and trialist A saw Tom receive the ball back and his effort on target was kept out by the Eastbourne United goalkeeper.
Max Walsh had another effort at goal, as did Fin Chapman but both efforts failed to test the Eastbourne United goalkeeper.
With Haines having very little to do in the second half, he produced another important save towards the end of the game, keeping down a low strike before Eastbourne sent a ball back into the Hastings penalty box which clipped the crossbar before going behind for a goal-kick.
Eastbourne United 0-4 Hastings United it finished. A very disciplined performance from Hastings in both halves who came out on top. Hastings head into their final pre-season game of 2026 at home to Hashtag United on Saturday 1st August.
Match Report:
Tom Dyson-Laurie
