Goldberg provides golden memory

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.