Jolly good show sinks United

Two goals from prolific striker Richard Jolly in the closing quarter-of-an-hour condemned the U’s to a third successive defeat in the Ryman Premier.

To complete a bad night all round, Harrow Borough - another of the sides desperate to avoid finishing in the bottom four - won 3-0 away to East Thurrock United, a result which saw them leapfrog Hastings in the table on goal difference.

Hastings played well in the first half but failed to turn possession into goals with their best efforts being a Jack Dixon strike from distance and a Sean Ray header.

FA Trophy semi-finalists Wealdstone always looked dangerous on the break before taking charge in the second half.

They should have opened the scoring on 50 minutes but Matt Armstrong-Ford produced a superb penalty save to deny Scott Fitzgerald.

However, the Hastings goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Jolly from opening the scoring with a far post header before the same player netted with a sublime strike from distance.

Ryman Premier standings (played-points): Billericay Town 37-79, AFC Hornchurch 37-75, Lowestoft Town 36-69, Bury Town 37-65, Cray Wanderers 36-61, Hendon 37-60, Lewes 37-60, Canvey Island 37-59, Wealdstone 35-56, Concord Rangers 36-56, Kingstonian 37-55, Metropolitan Police 36-54, Margate 36-49, East Thurrock Utd 35-47, Carshalton Athletic 37-47, Wingate & Finchley 37-47, Harrow Borough 37-40, HASTINGS UTD 37-40, Leatherhead 37-37, Tooting & Mitcham Utd 36-26, Aveley 37-25, Horsham 37-15.

A full match report will appear in Friday’s Observer Sport.