Rook secures win for United

Gannon, who was making his first senior start of the season after getting injured pre-season, appeared unbeatable until the 74th minute when he was the architect of his own downfall, scuffing a clearance straight to Steve Hafner who released Rook and Hastings' leading scorer did the rest, shooting low into the far corner of the net for the only goal of the game.

The goal capped a very good performance from a Hastings side smarting from their FA Cup exit four days earlier. Manager Steve Lovell said: "I'm happy with the result. The three points were all that mattered."

The Hillians arrived at the Pilot Field in third place in Ryman Division One but it is a position they are unlikely to retain for long after slashing their wage bill by two thirds, prompting the departure of several experienced players.

Hastings gave a debut to new signing Simon Rowland who partnered Rook up front in place of Chris Honey who dropped down to the substitutes' bench.

Rowland has dual registered with Eastbourne Borough whose manager, former Hastings boss Garry Wilson, watched the forward give a decent account of himself and come close to scoring on a couple of occasions.

In fact, he almost struck inside two minutes when he got his head to a Russell Eldridge free kick but the ball flew straight into the arms of Gannon. Hastings were looking very lively and Ryan Peters was only denied by a desperate block after the Hillians had been cut apart down the left flank.

The visitors posed the occasional threat and looked as though they might open the scoring on 17 minutes but Richard Bolton executed a superb sliding tackle to dispossess Kevin Townsend as he bore down on goal.

Russell Eldridge then fired a free kick past the angle, Mitchell Sherwood tested Gannon and Hafner delivered a great cross that just evaded the incoming Rowland.

The debutant's best opportunity arrived soon after half time when Alan Tutton's ball over the top put him clear but he shot straight at Gannon who moments later pulled off a much more difficult save to deny Rook.

The visitors' cause wasn't helped when they were reduced to 10 men just past the hour mark after Lloyd Cotton picked up his second booking of the night for hauling down Peters.

Moments later Gannon did brilliantly to block a close range Hafner volley and from the rebound Rook seemed certain to score but Dave Soutar threw himself in the path of the shot and the ball cannoned over the crossbar.

Rook went close again after neat play down the left by Steve Ringwood before finally making Hastings' pressure count. Ringwood should have doubled the lead in stoppage time but blazed over with only Gannon to beat.