Woeful U’s soundly beaten

Hastings United’s footballers suffered a second home defeat in the space of three days tonight (Monday).
Taser Hassan on the ball for Hastings United during their 3-0 defeat at home to Tooting & Mitcham United tonight. Picture courtesy Terry S. BlackmanTaser Hassan on the ball for Hastings United during their 3-0 defeat at home to Tooting & Mitcham United tonight. Picture courtesy Terry S. Blackman
Taser Hassan on the ball for Hastings United during their 3-0 defeat at home to Tooting & Mitcham United tonight. Picture courtesy Terry S. Blackman

The U’s endured a night to forget as they were comfortably seen off 3-0 by Tooting & Mitcham United in Ryman Football League Division One South.

Influential strikers Ade Olorunda and Frankie Sawyer were sorely missed as United carried precious little attacking threat. That said, they had a decent chance after barely a minute, but Kenny Pogue couldn’t get hold of his shot at the end of a break down the left.

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Taser Hassan then half-volleyed over before Tooting took a seventh minute lead. Jordan Clarke got past United midfielder Tim Olorunda near the byeline and although his shot was saved by United goalkeeper Josh Pelling, Solomon Pinnock fired home the rebound.

After half-an-hour of little goalmouth activity, Clarke forced a good save out of Pelling with a firm strike from 25 yards. Tooting went two-up in the 43rd minute when Pelling got a hand to a low shot from inside the D by Dan Summers, but couldn’t keep it out.

If there was any doubt about what the result would be at half time, surely there wasn’t after Tooting added a third within two minutes of the restart. Summers glanced in a well-delivered right wing free kick from Jordan Cheadle.

The game meandered to a predictable conclusion thereafter with Tooting goalkeeper Paul Smith seemingly having more problems with his boots than what little United could throw his way.

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A rasping drive by Francis Quarm flashed narrowly wide, a Summers free kick sailed just over, Pelling made a good save from Billy Marshall’s powerful drive, Pinnock fired into the side-netting and Marshall blazed over when well placed for the visitors.

United came close to a consolation in the sixth minute of added time as substitute Bright Temba clipped the top of the crossbar and there was still time for Pogue to force Smith into his only noteworthy save of the night.

United: Pelling, Rose, Cruttwell, T. Olorunda, Ray, King, Cook (Woodley 70), Hassan, Adams (Temba 65), Dolan, Pogue. Subs not used: Masters, Bankole, Sawyer. Attendance: 317.