Hastings suffer another defeat

Hastings United were beaten 2-0 at Walton & Hersham this afternoon

Both goals came in the second half as United experienced back-to-back Ryman Football League Division One South reverses for the second time this season, slipping to fifth in the process.

New United signing Taser Hassan went straight into the starting line-up and the visitors had the ball in the net inside three minutes. Frankie Sawyer’s header was disallowed, though, as Danny Ellis was deemed to have run the ball out of play before crossing.

Andre Scarlett fired well over for Walton and Ellis did the same for United. In between times, home full-back Louis Clark made a timely tackle on Sawyer as the striker sought to latch onto Ben Judge’s ball through the middle.

Sawyer had a dipping 20-yard volley acrobatically stopped by Walton goalkeeper Dan Coles and Sam Adams drove just wide from 25 yards. Sawyer was well off target with probably the best chance of the first half after being picked out by Tom Vickers.

Into the second period and United fell behind in the 55th minute. Poor defending allowed Andrew Mensah to evade several half-hearted tackles before driving low past Josh Pelling in the away goal.

United also contributed to their own downfall with the second goal. Mensah hit the post from six yards when unmarked at a corner, but slammed home the rebound to put his team firmly on course for a third straight victory.

U’s substitute Kenny Pogue volleyed narrowly wide, while in added time, Trevor McCreadie couldn’t hit the target having been teed up by Sawyer at the end of a counter-attack and Hassan curled a free kick against the far post.

United: Pelling, Henson (Pogue), Cruttwell, Darby, Judge, Jirbandey, Hassan, Adams, Sawyer, Ellis (O’Connor), Vickers (McCreadie). Subs not used: Camara, Burton.

Ryman Division One South top six (played-points): 1 Peacehaven & Telscombe 33-77, 2 Leatherhead 34-70, 3 Guernsey 35-68, 4 Folkestone Invicta 33-60, 5 HASTINGS UNITED 32-59, 6 Faversham Town 34-52.