16/3/10

Hastings United finally put paid to Lewes hopes of Senior Cup glory with a 1-0 victory at the Pilot Field.

The teams met for the third time after the previous game was ordered to be replayed by the Sussex FA over an ineligible player fielded by Hastings.

Lewes management team Steve Ibbitson and Jason Hopkinson put out a young side, with only five recognised first team players involved, against a strong Hastings line-up.

Scott Manning, Jordan Lang, George Jones and Harvey Storer all started, the last three of which are still first years in the U18 squad, and by the end of the game, only Williams Peauroux, Rikki Banks and Andy Pearson were not either in the current youth squad or last year's.

The Rooks failed to trouble Hastings keeper Ben Freeman during a competitive first half in which Ade Olorunda's spectacular volley cannoned off the post.

Hastings started the second half well, forcing Banks to be more involved than his opposite number, but he could do little to prevent Olorunda from scoring his 18th goal of the season.

The young Lewes side worked hard but were forced to shoot from distance, although the woodwork came to their rescue in injury time when Nathan Russell rose highest from a corner.

The Rooks' next encounter is an away league trip to Bishop's Stortford on Saturday, kick off 3pm.