FA Cup anguish for Hastings United after another penalty shootout

The ‘U’s dominated a goalless opening 45 minutesbefore the hosts took the lead via a penalty for handball.

The first goal United have conceded this season. Kenny Pogue equalised immediately and United looked to have won the game when their incessant pressure finally told, Captain Sam Adams clipping in at the far post with minutes remaining. Deep into added time however, Ebbsfleet equalised after a corner was only half cleared. The game moved to penalties with Fleet scoring all four and United having two out of threesaved, to end the shootout 1-4.

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Saturday October 3, dry, warm and cloudy after two days of torrential rain. The pitch in plush condition for this second qualifying round tie. United in white shirts and socks with claret shorts up against Ebbsfleet United, themselves in red shirts and socks with white shorts.

Ebbsfleet kicked off but it was the visitors who started on the front foot. Pogue and Tom Chalmers manoeuvred their way down the right with smart one touch passing, it set the tone for United’s first half performance which belied the two divisions separating the teams.

Eight minutes in and an alert Chalmers intercepted a crossfield pass, nipped past a defender and bamboozled the goalkeeper before slipping a shot around him at the near post. Only a defender’s last-ditch goal line clearance prevented United opening the scoring.

The pace of Chalmers and Aaron Capon, the hustling of Pogue, a midfield winning tackles and a composed back five all combined to cause consternation amongst the hosts, who had been unable to settle.

It took a misplaced pass from Louis Rogers to offer Fleet their first opportunity, though Rogers’ redeemed himself with a brave dive at the forwards feet to recover the ball.

Midway through the half United continued to push their opponents back. After a period of possession, the ball was switched from right to left and swung into the box where Capon leapt high but headed wide. Minutes later the best chance of the half. Chalmers and Jake Elliott the instigators, bypassing defenders to reach the by line where Elliott turned back onto his left foot and crossedfor Pogue who headed down into the turf, yet despite the recent rain the ball bounced up high and agonisingly over the bar.

United continued to press hard all over the pitch, forcing mistakes and picking up anything loose. From another slick move Adams and Chalmers played a one-two for Adams to fire over from 25 yards, which proved to be the final effort of a half the ‘U’s won on points but remained goalless.

Half time: Ebbsfleet United 0 – 0 Hastings United

Ebbsfleet made two substitutions and no doubt had received a half-time rocket. They immediately looked sharper with some constructive running off the ball. On 53 minutes their positive restart almost paid dividends. A one-two down the left created space for a pass across the edge of the area, thumped goalward by Jack Paxman which rattled the post and bounced away. Five minutes later and Fleet took the lead. A driven cross hit a hand in the United box and the referee pointed to the spot. Lee Martin making no mistake from twelve yards.

Would the wind be knocked out of United’s sails? Not a bit of it. United’s response was immediate, just sixty seconds later. Ryan Worrall hit a long pass for Ben Pope to challenge in the air, the ball dropped to Ollie Black whose shot was blocked but fell at the feet of Pogue to drill under the goalkeeper for the equaliser. The announcer awarded the goal to Kenny Rogue!

A period of end to end followed. Pope shot overfrom the angle before Fleet hit a low hard cross from the right which Rakish Bingham poked a foot at and deflected the ball a yard wide. Then a Fleet free kick was swung in and headed goalward which Rogers athletically tipped over the bar.

The final fifteen minutes of normal time belonged to United who piled on the pressure, creating chance after chance. First, Black released Marcus Goldsmith who, one and one with the goalkeeper, took one touch too many and saw his shot saved before Chalmers’ follow up shot was also saved. Adams fired in a shot from 25 yards, pushed around the post by the goalkeeper for a corner. From which Worrall picked out Adams loitering 30 yards out, his curling shot flew a foot wide. And then Pope and Chalmers played a pair of one-two’s leaving Chalmers in the area, no qualms with being surrounded by defenders, a clever drag back to make space and a shot which again drifted the wrong side of the post.

Then with four minutes and added time remaining United scored the second goal their play more than merited. Pope and Goldsmith combined to free Worrall who held the ball and held the ball more whilst Elliott galloped into space down the right. Worrall slid a superbly timed pass inside the fullback, picking out Elliott’s run. A low cross dummied by Pope at the near post and tucked home at the far post by Adams.

The task now was for United to keep Ebbsfleet at bay, which they did before conceding a corner in the 92nd minute. The cross was deep, Elliott headed half clear to the edge of area and Fleet’s Ben Chapman volleyed back with interest from 25 yards to equalise. Chapman will never hit a sweeter shot or score a timelier goal.

There was one final chance for United to swing a free kick into the area, but nothing came of it and the referee blew the final whistle. With no extra-time or replays, the game moved straight to penalties.

Full time: Ebbsfleet United 2 – 2 Hastings United

Ebbsfleet drilled home four penalties whilst United had two well saved.

Penalties: Ebbsfleet United 4 – 1 Hastings United

A stellar United performance, from front to back, magnificent. The ‘U’s will rue missing chances in the final fifteen minutes, an earlier goal and they could have added more to put the game out of reach. It still took an absolutely stunning goal to save Fleet from defeat and they were ruthless in the shootout.

The FA Cup run ends prematurely, but United will take huge positives and confidence from going toe to toe with a good National League side. The ‘U’s prove again they are not out of place at this level.

Hastings United: Rogers, Black, Worrall, Elphick, Stone, Elliott, Adams, Chalmers, Pogue (Goldsmith 71’), Capon (Pope 59’), Ward (Unused subs: Bates, Scott, Mapstone)

Ebbsfleet United: Hadler, Adebayo-Rowling, Wood, Goodman, Dobson (Rowan 87’), Mekki, Payne, Chapman, West (Paxman 45’), Martin, Grant (Bingham 45’) (Unused subs: Allen, Cundle, Egan)

Next game: Away to Haywards Heath Town on Tuesday 6th October, kick off at 7:45pm.