Hastings lose seven-goal Trophy thriller

HASTINGS United were knocked out of the FA Trophy after losing 4-3 at home to Yeading in a gripping preliminary round tie.

Steve Lovell's side had looked doomed as they trailed 2-0 at half time but three goals in a stunning eight minute spell saw them take a shock 3-2 lead. The Ryman League visitors hit back by scoring twice in the final 11 minutes to finally secure victory.

Lovell said: "It's all ifs and buts at the moment. We needed to go two goals up to give us a little bit of breathing space. We had a couple of chances when it was 3-2 to make it four or five and then they would have been dead and buried."

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Yeading grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck when poor defensive play allowed Jason Tucker to open the scoring on nine minutes and Didie Moundi to head home a second on the stroke of half time. It could have been even worse because the West London outfit also hit the post three times.

A double substitution and a change of formation saw Hastings come out for the second half a completely different side. Chris Honey got the ball rolling with a header on 54 minutes and soon after Steve Hafner side-footed home before Stephen Graham converted with a neat shot on the turn.

Graham Webb went close to extending Hastings' lead before Yeading equalised through substitute Errol Telemaque and the same player bundled home the winner a minute from the end of normal time.