Hastings triumph in crunch relegation scrap

Hastings United’s footballers took a big step towards safety with a vital victory this afternoon (Easter Monday).
Sam Adams scored the only goal to give Hastings United a 1-0 victory away to Ramsgate this afternoon. Picture courtesy Joe KnightSam Adams scored the only goal to give Hastings United a 1-0 victory away to Ramsgate this afternoon. Picture courtesy Joe Knight
Sam Adams scored the only goal to give Hastings United a 1-0 victory away to Ramsgate this afternoon. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

A precious second half goal from Sam Adams gave the U’s a 1-0 win away to fellow strugglers Ramsgate in Ryman Football League Division One South.

United are now two places and four points above the three relegation positions after a cracking Easter weekend in which they’ve recorded back-to-back single goal triumphs.

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If United stay up and Ramsgate go down at the season’s end on April 25, Adams may well be a key reason because he also scored the only goal when the teams met at The Pilot Field in January.

Ramsgate dominated the early exchanges, but the final 25 minutes of the first half were relatively even. United came close to opening the scoring when Tim Olorunda’s header from an Adams corner was superbly saved.

Into the second half and United midfielder Steve Brinkhurst struck a left-foot volley which was well tipped over. At the other end, a Warren Schulz header from a corner bounced inches over the crossbar.

Brinkhurst clipped the outside of the post from long range before Adams won it for United with a splendid goal in the 80th minute. Having been picked out by Olorunda, Adams scored with a tremendous left-foot volley from the left-hand side of the area.

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United: Pelling, Rose, Turner, Bankole, Ray, Jirbandey, Brinkhurst, T. Olorunda, Adams, Logan, Patterson. Subs: Willett, Foster, Giles, Cunnington, Hanifan.

Ryman Division One South bottom five (played 43 matches unless stated): 20 HASTINGS UNITED 44pts (-13 goal difference), 21 East Grinstead Town 44 (-36), 22 Ramsgate (42) 40 (-29), 23 Redhill 38 (-29), 24 Horsham 36 (-48).