Ray inspires Hastings comeback

They carried the Ryman League flag into the second round proper with a 2-1 victory at Conference North side Bishop’s Stortford yesterday (Saturday).

Player-manager Sean Ray led from the front, volleying the 70th-minute goal which brought the sides level after Stortford had led from the seventh minute, when Matt Johnson found the net.

Everything looked set for a replay in Sussex, but with three minutes left Brad Goldberg, who had scored in every round of the competition, tried to maintain his record with a long-range effort and, although he failed, teammate Zac Attwood was on the spot to deflect the ball into the net.

Chatham, Staines, Hitchin and Blackfield & Langley had already fallen to the Sussex side, who are now just 90 minutes away from the third round proper and, perhaps, a chance to relive a third-round game of 59 years ago when the previous Hastings United club drew 3-3 with Norwich City at the Pilot Field.

With a bit of fortune there could have been three Ryman League clubs in today’s draw. Metropolitan Police were denied a replay against League One high-flyers Crawley Town by the width of the Imber Court post which kept out Howard Newton’s shot in added time.

Crawley had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Josh Simpson converted a through ball. Billy Clarke made it 2-0 on 69 minutes and, hard through the Met had battled, it looked as if it would be a comfortable afternoon for the visitors.

But there was new hope for the Ryman club in the 83rd minute as Craig Brown’s shot came back off the bar and Allan Tait was there to finish. The Met threw everything forward and had penalty appeals turned down before Newton came so close to saving the day.

Hendon came within six minutes of a replay at League Two Aldershot. Dean Cracknell gave them the lead with a long-range cracker in the 28th minute and some heroic goalkeeping by Berkley Laurencin made it a frustrating afternoon for the Shots.

The dangerous Danny Hylton headed an equaliser in the 57th minute and it was Hylton who finally shattered Hendon’s dreams when he finished off a cross from Craig Reid.