Spot-on Sam rescues point
Hastings United preserved their unbeaten start to the Ryman Premier season with a controversial late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at home to Cray Wanderers.
Sam Adams dispatched a twice-taken penalty in the 84th minute to make it eight points out of a possible 12 for Tony Dolby's side.
The U's had looked to be heading for defeat after falling behind with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining until former Hastings goalkeeper Dave King was adjudged to have brought down substitute Kenny Pogue after spilling Russell Eldridge's free kick.
Anthony Storey saw his initial spot-kick saved but King's joy was cut short when the linesman ruled that the goalkeeper had come off his line. Adams, Hastings' regular penalty taker last season, stepped up for the retake and blasted the ball into the top corner.
The visitors weren't happy and two of their management team were sent to the stands.
The equaliser was deserved because neither team really did enough to take all three points from a match that struggled to get going.
Hastings' best opportunity of the opening period saw Fraser Logan release Ade Olorunda but the striker blasted wide of the near post.
They should have taken the lead early in the second half when Jamie Cade failed to keep down a close range header after more good work by Logan.
Cray, who prior to this match had yet to pick up a point although they were 2-0 up before the midweek game against Carshalton Athletic was abandoned due to the bad weather, took the lead through Laurent Hamici's clinical finish.
Hastings: Masters, Jirbandey, Elford, Beales, Whyborne (T. Olorunda 79), Storey, Eldridge, Phillips (Cade 16), A. Olorunda, Adams, Logan (Pogue 74). Subs not used: Richardson, Chalmers-Stevens.
Attendance: 574.
A full report will appear in Friday's Hastings Observer.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
