Leatherhead 1 Hastings United 2
Leatherhead bowed out of the FA Trophy on Saturday, slipping to a 2-1 home defeat
against Hastings United of the Isthmian Premier Division.
Tanners deservedly led the tie 1-0 at half-time, thanks to a fine cross from Kane
Fitzgerald for Deondre Date to fire home from close range.
But Leatherhead were undone by an inspired second-half substitution from Hastings
on 65 minutes. Within a minute of coming onto the pitch, Tommie Fagg got his name
on the scoresheet with a superb turn and shot from ten yards out before grabbing an
equally dramatic second goal for the visitors five minutes later.
Leatherhead started the match strongly, moving the ball around with confidence and
creating several opportunities to press forward deep into United’s half.
Tanners’ efforts were rewarded with a well-worked goal on 22 minutes. Matt Everitt
slipped past his marker before hitting a long ball forward for Fitzgerald to chase. The
former Badshot Lea midfielder hit a firm cross into the box for Date to latch on to and
poke past the keeper.
Leatherhead went close to doubling their lead eight minutes later. Everitt pumped
another long ball forward into the path of Anuar Ceesay, who fired just wide.
Kelvin Massango did well to close down United threat George Walker, but the young
winger managed to get away from his Leatherhead marker just before half-time to
produce a wide-angled shot, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Sonny Wheeler.
But for all their strength in possession, Leatherhead’s one-goal advantage at the break
was always going to be tested in the second half, especially after having lost in their
last two matches following on from impressive first-half performances.
Hastings stepped up a gear after the break. Davide Rodari fired a wide angled shot
into the side netting before Jack Dixon tested Wheeler with another long range effort.
The tie turned significantly in the visitors’ favour with the introduction of Tommie
Fagg for Finley Chapman on 65 minutes. The tall striker immediately moved into
Leatherhead’s penalty area, latching onto a cross from the right and stabbing the ball
past Wheeler to equalise.
And in a carbon copy of his opening goal, Fagg was again given room in the box to
repeat the same move four minutes later to put Hastings ahead.
Tanners pushed players forward and made a series of attacking substitutions, throwing
caution to the wind in their attempts to draw level.
But while they had a good share of possession, Leatherhead were unable to produce a
shot on target or really test the visitors’ defence during the final twenty minutes.
Fagg almost added a third goal for Hastings on 87 minutes, but the former Tonbridge
Angles and Chatham Town player was denied a hat-trick by another fine save from
Wheeler.
Tanners return to league action on Tuesday when they host South Park (Reigate).
Kick-off at Fetcham Grove is at 7.45pm.
Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Jude Jeffrey, Kelvin Manuel Massango, Niran Butler,
George Hedley, Alfie Huckle (Marco Haigh 83), Tom Kavanagh (Seb Karczewski
72), Kane Fitzgerald, Anuar Ceesay (Kwesi Ntim 64), Matt Everitt (Rhys Murrell-
Williamson 77), Deondre Date
Hastings Utd: Louis Rogers, Kane Penn, George Walker, Jack Dixon, Leo Young,
Davide Rodari, Kian Moynes, Tom Howard, Finley Chapman (Tommie Fagg 65),
Adam Lovatt, Freddie Legg