Saturday 22 February 2003 - Pilot Field - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Top scorer Jason Eaton returned to the starting line-up after missing the win over Cambridge City through illness but his expected partner Frankie Bennett failed to recover from a calf injury, Dan Cleverley took his place up front. The first sight of goal for either side arrived after 11 minutes for Hastings, Yates' long range effort just clearing Mark Bryant's crossbar. Seven minutes later a Flannagan header found Bevis six yards out only for the midfielder to blast high over the bar. City's response was almost non-existent with only home keeper King's uncertainty under a couple of high crosses looking likely to lead to a goal. The 22nd minute saw a good run by Jamie Gosling give him a shooting chance but his weak effort was easily gathered by King. Andy Williams was showing a few good signs out wide but with too many of his teammates conspicuous by their absence his constant running produced little end result. The final half chance of the half fell to United's Bevis on 38 minutes. He ran onto a long forward ball but the end result was once again a shot that cleared the bar by several feet.

So, thankfully the first half was out of the way and the next 45 minutes could only be an improvement. And within just six minutes of the interval it did - though not for City. Iain Harvey was given two chances to clear a Hasting's attack but failed both times. The second effort looped up to an unmarked Simmonds and despite appearing to control the ball with his arm his low shot past Bryant was allowed to stand. Even this blow failed to lift City and Hastings had a handball claim of their own 12 minutes later when Simmonds shot struck Gary Kemp's arm. A penalty would have been harsh but I guess it evened the score. It was clear that if another goal was to arrive it would be for United - Zahana-Oni and Bevis both got into good positions only to produce poor final crosses - so a change was desperately needed for City. Drew Shore replaced Cleverley on the hour mark and Williams switched to an unfamiliar forward spot alongside Eaton. The strategy lasted just 13 minutes before Plan C was tried. Josh Jefferies came on for Gosling and joined Eaton up front with Williams returning to the left flank. When this had no more impact than Plans A & B the 80th minute saw Plan D introduced. This time Eaton headed for the dressing room, Matt Coupe entered the fray for his debut and a three-man forward line of Jefferies, Williams and Paul Milsom was tried. And finally it worked! Ironically Williams broke down the left wing only for Flanagan to trip him 35 yards out. Shore lifted the free-kick into the United box where Trought rose highest to head goalward. King got a hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it finding the net. The overwelming emotion at the goal was relief and City appeared to settle for a point. They almost paid for this attitude in stoppage time when Zahana-Oni turned on a Simmonds pass only to slice his shot wide. On the final whistle the players seemed to try to inject some excitement into proceedings after the turgid 90 minutes with a pushing match that saw Milsom end up with a split lip courtesy of Hastings captain Playford but even this nonsense couldn't disguise what had gone before.