Whyborne makes United return

Rhys Whyborne has returned to Hastings United Football Club after an absence of more than two years

The former club captain made his first United appearance since October 4, 2011 - when he operated as a lone striker away to Billericay Town - in the under-21 game away to Margate on Saturday.

United manager Ben White said that the accomplished defender, 27, looked like he had never been away despite only having trained for a fortnight beforehand.

Whyborne joined a slightly patched-up United side also featuring first team left-sided player Bruno Pacheco for their final Ryman U21 League South Division game of 2013.

United got off to the worst possible start, falling behind to a dubious penalty after only two minutes. They regrouped, though, and equalised shortly before the hour mark through Narins Lenozo, a jet-heeled young French player making just his second appearance after receiving international clearance.

After that United looked to push on and win the game, and they had three or four chances to do so. They might have lost it at the end, though, had it not been for a fine save from Justin Lee to secure a 1-1 draw.

Chris Cumming-Bart was “head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch” according to White, while 16-year-old Bobbi-Jay Deegan also performed very well.