United end rivals’ unbeaten start

Hastings United’s footballers came from behind to defeat previously unbeaten opposition this afternoon (Saturday).
Zac Attwood scored Hastings United's winner away to Dorking Wanderers this afternoon. Picture courtesy Scott WhiteZac Attwood scored Hastings United's winner away to Dorking Wanderers this afternoon. Picture courtesy Scott White
Zac Attwood scored Hastings United's winner away to Dorking Wanderers this afternoon. Picture courtesy Scott White

The U’s overturned a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 away to a Dorking Wanderers side which has scored more goals than anybody else in Ryman Football League Division One South.

Goals in the final 20 minutes from Sam Cruttwell and Zac Attwood earned United three very welcome points having lost their previous two league matches against Carshalton Athletic and Folkestone Invicta.

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United manager Garry Wilson threw Billy Medlock straight into the starting line-up, while fellow new boy Chris Cumming-Bart came on as a first half substitute for the injured Jack Walder.

The first half ended goalless, although Dorking attacker Tom Tolfrey would have been disappointed not to have hit the target when clean through on goal.

Into the second half and United came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Medlock hit the post after Sean Ray got his head to a corner. Moments later Dorking took a 51st minute lead against the run of play through a low finish by Tolfrey after he had initially gone to ground under the challenge of Ollie Rowe.

Tolfrey poked wide when invitingly placed to double Dorking’s lead and United equalised in the 76th minute via a cracker from Cruttwell. The substitute rifled home a stunning strike from around 35 yards after his initial free kick had been cleared back out to him.

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Jerome Beckles came close with a spectacular effort of his own at the end before United grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 82nd minute. Sam Adams made his way past a trio of Dorking defenders and Attwood scored with a low left-foot shot.

In added time, United substitute Tyrell Richardson-Brown hit the side-netting from a tight angle, while at the other end, Tom Davis wasn’t far away with a curling effort and Shaun Findlay went inches wide.

United: Pelling, Crabb, Hall, Rowe, Ray, Walder (Cumming-Bart), Adams, Vickers, Attwood, Harris (Cruttwell), Medlock (Richardson-Brown). Subs not used: Hanifan, Temba. Attendance: 121.

Ryman Division One South standings (played-points): 1 Folkestone Invicta 9-25, 2 Three Bridges 10-20, 3 Corinthian-Casuals 10-19, 4 Dorking Wanderers 9-18, 5 Sittingbourne 9-18, 6 Molesey 10-17, 7 Ramsgate 10-17, 8 Faversham Town 9-16, 9 Walton & Hersham 9-16, 10 HASTINGS UNITED 9-15, 11 South Park 7-15, 12 Herne Bay 9-15, 13 Worthing 9-15, 14 Walton Casuals 9-12, 15 Carshalton Athletic 9-12, 16 Tooting & Mitcham United 9-12, 17 Chatham Town 9-11, 18 Guernsey 8-10, 19 Peacehaven & Telscombe 10-8, 20 Whyteleafe 8-7, 21 East Grinstead Town 9-5, 22 Hythe Town 10-4, 23 Whitstable Town 9-4, 24 Chipstead 9-1.

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