Hastings United secured a 2:1 victory over Hendon in the first round qualifying of the FA Trophy on Friday evening. The match at the Hinchinbrook Stadium concluded with the hosts taking all three points. It marked the opening competitive fixture of the season for both sides.
Hendons recent form offered little comfort heading into this tie. They had lost three of their last five matches before this fixture, including heavy defeats against Walton and Hersham and Beckenham Town. Hastings showed more consistency, with only one loss among their previous five outings coming against Concord Rangers.
Without detailed minute-by-minute accounts available, the pattern of the game remains unclear. What is certain is that Hastings managed to find the net twice while conceding once. And here's the thing — they held their nerve when it mattered most.
The result extends Hastings' unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions. Hendon's poor form continues, with just one win in their last five encounters dating back to October last year against Dulwich Hamlet.
Both teams remain level on points at this stage of the non-league pyramid. The FA Trophy provides another avenue for progress beyond league play. Hastings will look to build momentum from this opening victory.