The Ryman Premier club, the last club from that level of the pyramid left in the competition, had two particular moments to savour.
The highlight was Bradley Goldberg’s 20-yard drive, his seventh FA Cup goal of the season, which made it 3-1 midway through the second half. Not far behind it was the moment when, with the game still scoreless, newly-signed Liam O’Brien saved a penalty from Ishmael Miller.
O’Brien was signed on loan from Barnet the previous day after keeper Matt Armstrong-Ford failed a fitness test. His courageous performance in the second-round victory over Harrogate, when he had been forced to play despite injury because there was no-one else, had been spotlighted on national TV but it was too much to ask him for a repeat. Another regular, striker Zac Attwood, also missed the big day through injury.
Watched by over 1,000 travelling fans (pictured above by Steve White/TGS Photo as they celebrate the penalty save), Hastings held out – thanks to O’Brien’s save after Miller had been brought down by Tom Vickers – until the 22nd minute, when Merouane Zemmama curled in a shot from outside the box.
The dream was still alive at half-time, when the score remained 1-0, but Andy Halliday’s goal within two minutes of the restart dealt Hastings a crushing blow.
A cruel deflection helped Zemmama to make it 3-0 in 68 minutes but Goldberg’s golden moment followed immediately and was celebrated in suitable style by the Sussex supporters.
Miller netted the final goal with six minutes left but Hastings received a rousing reception from the crowd of 12,579 at the end and their approach to the game was warmly praised by experienced Boro boss Tony Mowbray.
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