Mistakes gift points to visitors

An horrendous error by debutant keeper Paul Sansome after only four minutes and some rank bad defending early in the second half handed the points to the Kent visitors.

Manager Steve Lovell said: "The boys are gutted and I'm disappointed as well, but there's nothing you can do at the end of the game - you can bawl and shout but there is no need because they are giving everything."

Hastings got off to the possible start when Sansome miskicked an attempted clearance and before he could get back in time Chatham striker Daniel Stanton gobbled up the loose ball.

The home side were back on level terms just six minutes later through new signing Mark Green who scored with a well struck drive which sped under the dive of the keeper and went in off the crossbar.

Graham Webb, Tony Burt and Steve Hafner all went close as Hastings controlled the remainder of the first half.

Chatham regained the led nine minutes into the second half when David Henham was caught out on the edge of his penalty box and direct from the resultant free kick Tommy Binks curled a sublime shot into the top corner of the net.

Although Hastings struggled in the second half they still had chances to get something out of the game but Ricky Spiller failed to score with a close range header and Mitchell Sherwood was denied by a good save.