Hastings sunk by 10-man Athletic

Tom Davis was shown a second yellow card on 26 minutes after referee Oliver Jackson deemed the midfielder’s tumble in the Hastings box was a dive. Moments earlier he had been booked for a foul on Matt Hall.

By that time Carshalton were already a goal to the good thanks to Dean McDonald whose 16th minute free kick took a wicked deflection on its way into the net.

Despite the extra man advantage Hastings never really looked like opening up a solid defensive line as they played their neat passing game in areas where they were hardly likely to cause the opposition too many problems.

In fact it was Carshalton - whose reputedly big money team are fancied to do well this season - who might have doubled their advantage not long after the sending-off, but left back Dan Bolwell did well to block Paul Vines.

The Robins did go two-up soon after half time when McDonald turned and shot from close range following a low ball into the box from Billy Crook.

Hastings kept trying to pass their way back into the match but never created a genuine chance, with their best effort on goal being a speculative 20-yard volley from Fred Foreman which forced Nick Hamann to tip over.

Hastings’ day got worse when young winger George Jones was stretchered off after going down clutching his leg.

McDonald might have claimed a hat-trick late on but Anderson stood up well to deny the former Arsenal player.

Hastings: Anderson, Manning, Bolwell (Sutton 77), Crellin, Ray, Jirbandey, Hopkinson, Hall (Carey 77), Pogue, Foreman, Jones (West 77). Subs not used: Walder, Parris.

Referee: Oliver Jackson (Sittingbourne). Attendance: 431.