Hastings United Football Club for a long time threatened to pull off an Emirates FA Cup upset this afternoon (Saturday).
Bostik League Division One South team Hastings led for more than half-an-hour before conceding three times in the closing 15 minutes to lose 3-1 away to Bostik Premier side Dulwich Hamlet.
Two of the three Dulwich goals, in fact, came in added time as Hastings came agonisingly close to at least earning a replay against a club beaten in the Bostik Premier play-off final last term.
Hastings welcomed back left-back Sam Beale and midfielder Simon Johnson from injury for the first round qualifying tie, while Curtis Gayler and Ollie Black were promoted to the starting XI.
In front of a splendid crowd of 1,288, Ibrahim Kargbo rolled a shot wide and a Dumebi Dumaka header dropped just over for Dulwich, but it was Hastings who drew first blood at the end of the first half.
Gayler’s shot from just outside the area was very well saved by home goalkeeper Preston Edwards, but the resulting corner led to something of a scramble in the box and the ball ended up in the net from close range. Ollie Rowe was credited with the goal.
Into the second half, and Dulwich were twice narrowly off target during a strong spell before they equalised in the 79th minute. Nana Boakye-Yiadom mopped up the rebound after Hastings goalkeeper Josh Pelling was unable to hold the initial effort.
Both sides pushed for a potential winner thereafter, but it was Dulwich who went ahead as Boakye-Yiadom scored his second. There was still time for Boakye-Yiadom to complete his hat-trick during a finale which was cruel on the effort Hastings put on.

The following Saturday we made the journey to take on Dorking Wanderers down in Surrey, for a league match:

An early goal and missed chances in the second half condemned Dorking Wanderers to s first home defeat of the season against a strong Dulwich Hamlet.
The game was just two minutes old when a Dulwich corner was met by the head of Rickie Hayley unmarked in the box, and he powered a header past Harry Palmer into the Dorking net. It might have been worse for Wanderers as the visitors dominated the early stages - Palmer reacted smartly to smother the ball as Nana Boakye-Yiadon shot inside the six-yard box and Nyren Clunis whose pace was causing problems on the right, had time and space to pick out Sanchez Ming for a low drive that stung the Dorking keeper’s hands.
Clunis again broke free, this time through the middle and, with only the keeper to beat and a second goal looking inevitable, chipped a shot just wide of the far post.
“We had a shaky first quarter of an hour – and not for the first time this season,” conceded Wanderers’ manager Marc White. “We set ourselves up to play very positively, but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb with the poor marking for that early goal,” he added.
But, as Jerome Beckles began to impose himself in midfield, Dorking began to get a foothold in the game. Tom Tolfrey came close, then a quick exchange of passes with James McShane and Matt Briggs shot wide of the far post.
Still Dulwich looked dangerous and Michael Chambers’ pinpoint cross-field pass landed on the boot of Boakye-Yiadom at the far post, but his volley went straight into Harry Palmer’s grateful hands.
Despite dominating the first half, The Hamlet’s one-goal lead began to look rather slender as Wanderers, inspired by McShane’s creativity, had the best of the game after the break.
On the hour, Briggs ran through the middle and slid the ball through to Giuseppe Sole in the box, but his first time shot was driven wide of the post. There was a more glaring miss ten minutes’ later as Briggs played in Gareth Chedlik who turned on the spot before squaring to Dan Pearse, but the midfielder scooped the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
“We’re not disheartened,” said White despite defeat. “We competed well and were the better side in the second half, but there are fine margins that make the difference between winning and losing at the level we're now playing. So we missed two good chances that could have got us something out of the game, but can't put it down to bad luck - we just have to work and turn those fine margins in our favour.”

Three days later was the 'smash & grab', when Hendon took the points in stoppage time at Champion Hill:

Hendon escaped from Champion Hill with three Bostik League Premier Division points after a magnificent rearguard action kept them the game long enough for substitute Josh Walker, on his debut, struck a dagger into the Dulwich Hamlet hearts with a winning goal five minutes into the four additional advised by the referee.
The Greens made four changes for the game, full-backs Jake Eggleton and Sam Murphy, plus Matt Ball and Ashley Nathaniel-George all missing out - the latter two were named as substitutes 0 with Oliver Sprague, Keagan Cole, Casey Maclaren and Kezie Ibe coming into the starting line-up. Also on the bench was another player who would make his debut, James Rogers-Oben, and Cameron Currie, who would not be used.
Just before kick-off, the heavens opened and the match was played in almost its entirety in pouring rain. The soaking pitch probably added to excitement, but it held up really well in the inclement conditions.
Very unusually for a Hendon team coached by Gary McCann, the Greens were content to let Dulwich have the ball and set the pace. In the 13th minute, Nyren Clunis forced a save from Tom Lovelock; Clunis's battle against Sprague was compelling throughout and the Hendon man deserves huge credit for limiting the chances that came down the Hamlet right flank.
Three minutes later, Michael Corcoran went down with an injury. He was able to continue, but only for a couple of minutes before Ball replaced him.
Lovelock continued to be busy and he then pulled off three superb saves in a little over a minute, denying Dumebi Dumaka, twice, and Kenny Beaney. Ibrahim Kargbo then drilled a 25-yard shot that narrowly missed the target with Lovelock a spectator.
Hendon did have a couple of openings, Zak Joseph firing narrowly wide with a snapshot and Ball driving a free-kick just the wrong side of Preston Edwards' far post.
Just before the break, Dumaka had the ball in the Hendon net when he was put through by Beaney. However, he had failed to time his run and the assistant referee's flag was up as he received the ball and a few strides before he shot past Lovelock.
Reaching half-time all square was an achievement, and the Greens made another change before the second half kicked-off, Rogers-Oben coming on for Ibe as Hendon became even more defensive, Dave Diedhiou - booked for a foul just before the break - moving into midfield and Rogers-Oben slotting in at full-back.
Rogers-Oben certainly improved Hendon defensively as he kept Muhammadu Faal more quiet. But the two best defenders were the centre-backs, Rian Bray and Arthur Lee, who dealt with most of the danger thrown at them.
And, when they were beaten, Lovelock was magnificent. He made excellent saves to keep out efforts from Michael Chambers, Dumaka and Nathan Ferguson, the last of whom was cautioned for simulation as he went down in a challenge on the edge of the penalty area.
Having failed to make the breakthrough, Dulwich made their changes in fairly quick succession, sending on Ashley Carew, Nana Boakye-Yiadom and Sanchez Ming for Ferguson, Dumaka and Frazer Shaw respectively. Five minutes after the last of the changes, Rickie Hayles collided with a team-mate and spent the final few minutes limping.
Hendon finally had a spell of concerted pressure on the Dulwich goal, but there were 74 minutes on the clock. It gave the impression that the Blues' defence was not impregnable as the clearances could not find team-mates - much as was the case when the Greens were defending, but the pressure on them was far more intense.
Niko Muir barely had a look-in, especially in the second half, when he was pretty much a lone striker for most of the 45 minutes. Hendon also made their final change with 11 minutes remaining, Walker taking over from Joseph.
Dulwich were beginning to show signs of frustration as two shots in quick succession flew ingloriously high and wide of the target. Mark Weatherstone, then had a great chance to win it with a free header from ten yards. He, however, could not keep the ball down and it bounced on the top of the net.
The referee signalled that there would be four minutes of additional time. Those four minutes were soon extended as Diedhiou mistimed a challenge and was shown a second yellow card.
Down to 10 men, Hendon defended the free-kick well and also sensed that Hamlet had rather run out of ideas and desperation was building. The Greens simply kept to their plan and looked to Muir and Walker for sporadic runs forward.
In the time added on for the time it took for Diedhiou to leave the pitch from the far touchline, Hendon struck. Ball, who had been a tireless worker with Keagan Cole and Maclaren in the middle of the park, picked out Walker with a brilliant pass on the left side.
Weatherstone could not slow down the substitute, who cut inside. The limping Hayles could not get across in time and Walker curled a beautiful shot beyond the helpless dive of Edwards.
Amazingly, Walker's effort was the fourth consecutive Hendon away match to have a goal scored at least four minutes into additional time. The three Bostik League games were all match-winners: Brightlingsea taking the points on Bank Holiday Saturday, Spencer McCall netting Wingate & Finchleyâs fourth in the FA Cup and Coleâs winner at Metropolitan Police last Saturday.
There was barely time for the restart before the referee blew the final whistle. Hendon celebrations, despite the pouring the rain, continued for many minutes.
The result lifts the Greens to the heady heights of second in the division, three points behind leaders Billericay, though Leiston and Wingate & Finchley trail Hendon only on goal difference.

Last Saturday we bowed out of the FA Cup at Slough Town.

Their website included a post-match interview with their joint-manager Neil Baker.
CLICK HERE to listen to it.

The written report on their website was as follows:

Slough Town twice came from behind to make it through to Third Round Qualifying against Bostik Premier Dulwich Hamlet, who were reduced to ten men in first half stoppage time.
This tie between two of the strongest sides in their respective divisions was expected by many to be an entertaining contest, and it did not fail to deliver as the 712 supporters in attendance were treated to a great advert for the famous old competition.
The match burst into life early in the second half, after a goalless opening 45 minutes ended in controversy.
Brad Wadkins hit the top of the bar with a lobbed effort in the opening minute and shortly after played a teasing ball into the box which Chris Flood stretched for, but failed to get any contact to.
Both sides demonstrated they are comfortable with the ball at their feet with large passages of possession but chances were few and far between. Dulwich’s Nyren Clunis was denied by Jack Turner on 11 minutes after a short backpass from Sean Fraser had put the keeper in trouble, and big striker Ashley Carew was well off target with one shot before firing another into Turner’s midriff.
The dangerous Dumebi Dumaka also saw a strike held by Turner before later having a goal disallowed by an offside flag.
Slough also had their moments, but despite thoughtful build-up play too often their final ball was lacking and as a result did not register a shot on target in the first half.
On the stroke of half time, Sanchez Ming caught Slough winger Matt Lench with a high boot and referee Stephen Bates decided it warranted a straight red card. The issue is topical at the moment with a number of high-profile cases in the top flight, and after the match joint manager Neil Baker was quick to admit he had some sympathy with Dulwich over the decision.
Slough’s fortunes turned as quickly as the weather at Arbour Park as heavy rain started to fall at the beginning of the second half. Less than 60 seconds had been played when Turner kept out Clunis’ strike with a leg - but the resulting corner was headed firmly past him by Mark Weatherstone to give ten-man Dulwich the lead.
But Slough responded strongly and peppered the Dulwich goal, forcing a series of corners with Simon Dunn twice having efforts deflected wide and Alan Inns also. The pressure told as Brad Wadkins diverted a Flood shot past Preston Edwards to equalise on 53 minutes.
The home side looked the more likely - Dunn clipped the outside of the post with a strike and Edwards pushed over Lee Togwell’s strike after he was expertly found by the head of Flood.
Dulwich, though, started to look comfortable despite being a man light, and Slough made changes to liven things up, with James Dobson and Manny Williams introduced.
But instead it looked as if the Rebels had shot themselves in the foot as they failed to clear and let in Clunis, who fired the ball into the bottom corner on 75 minutes to give Dulwich a lead to hold on to.
Slough’s response needed to be quick - and it was, as three minutes later the all-action Lee Togwell finished neatly with a side-foot volley from Dobson’s cross.
Togwell raced into the net to collect the ball with Slough’s focus now firmly on winning the match and avoiding a replay at Champion Hill on Tuesday evening. And six minutes from time, Dulwich’s resistance was broken as Williams touched Flood’s cross past Edwards to turn the game on its head.
Slough celebrated an eighth consecutive win in all competitions and look forward to Monday lunchtime’s Third Round Qualifying draw. Further good news for the Rebels is that goalkeeper Mark Scott was able to take a place on the bench after being medically cleared to play football, six months and a week after breaking his neck.
“We’ve shown brilliant character to come back twice and then go and win it”, said joint-manager Neil Baker.“When the side’s as good as Dulwich, the numerical advantage does not always translate into a win, so I’m delighted with the result”.

And, lastly-for the moment- on Tuesday night we progressed in the Velocity Trophy at Staines Town:

Swans go out on penalties...
Swans went out of the Velocity [League Cup] Trophy on penalties at Wheatsheaf Park. With the game ending 1-1 at full time the match went straight to the shoot out and it was the visitors who sealed the tie through former Swan Sanchez Ming.
Swans started with a changed outfit from Sunday’s draw at Worthing and looked good throughout the first half going in 1-0 up following a great turn and strike from Cash Hippolyte. Elliot Buchanan looked sharp and had several shots on target saved by Preston Edwards and a further strike hitting the base of the post. However, despite the front running it was Dulwich who took the second half and levelled through Ashley Carew on 69 minutes. At this stage either side could have won it but it was Hamlet who progress to the next round and we wish them well.