Home comforts can carry Hastings to FA Trophy success

Craig Stone chases the ball during Hastings' FA Trophy win against FC Romania / Picture: Scott White

That’s the hope of everyone at The Pilot Field after the Us came through one home tie and landed another in the next round.

Ben Pope, Gary Elphick and Tom Chalmers scored to see off FC Romania in last Saturday’s second qualifying round – before Chris Agutter’s team were handed a home tie with Middlesex side Ashford Town in the next round.

Although winning promotion is clearly the club’s No1 aim for the 2020-21 campaign, no-one is complaining at the prospect of a little run in the Trophy.

Hastings earned £3,000 for beating Romania – and will claim another £3,750 if they overcome Ashford, who like them are a step four side.

Agutter said Saturday’s win was ‘very easy’.

“It sounds odd but we probably scored too early,” he said. “It was a very easy game. At no point did we think we were in any danger of losing it. At step four, I believe our regional division is the strongest – that often shows when a side from our division plays one from elsewhere.

“Ashford Town, who we play in the next round, are a big powerful side and very direct – an old school non-league football team, if you like. It will be a clash of styles but we’ll do our homework on them and look forward to it.

“We will always back ourselves at home. I think we’ve lost only five home games in the three years we’ve been here.”

The Ashford tie takes place on Saturday week, October 31.