Cheshunt 2
Jack Munns 62
Kenny Coker 90+2

Hastings United 1
Davide Rodari 12

Attendance 392
Star Man Jack Munns Cheshunt

Very much a game of two halves as the visitors took control of the first half, and the home side roared back to dominate the second.
Cheshunt went very close to opening the scoring with ten minutes gone, a corner created mayhem in the Hastings area, defenders scrambling, Jack Thomas struck a weak clearance against the bar, Kenny Coker followed up to head down & goal bound but Hastings keeper Louis Rogers pulled off a save akin to the Banks Pele save to deny the Ambers striker.

Kenny Coker heads the bar rebound downward as keeper Louis Rogers starts his dive, eventually scooping the ball up over the bar as it bounced on the goal line. (Photo Scott Lear)

Immediately new signing Siyabonga Ligendza & George Walker linked well for Hastings on their right, the latter sending an inch perfect cross for Davide Rodari to run onto, and head home in off the post. Cheshunt didn’t learn and the Hastings right continued to supply ammunition for Rodari, and the hard working Kian Moynes. When Rodari wasn’t looking to score, he was supplying crosses from the left.  Hastings had chances but failed to capitalise with only one goal to show for their efforts.
Home striker Kenny Coker had a great opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half time, but blazed over from close range. Half -time & manager Mel Gwinnett had plenty for the tactic board to run through in the changing room.

The second half saw Cheshunt give a debut to Christian Scott in midfield & he was straight into the action, looking to open up the Hastings defence with his passes, or taking on defenders to work an opening for himself.

Debutant Christian Scott works an opening for a shot on goal (photo Scott Lear)

Cheshunt gradually took the Hastings size advantage out of the equation, getting the ball down at every opportunity & playing around their more physical opponents. On the hour Christian Scott headed into the keepers hands from a Lordon Akolbire cross, and it spurred the Ambers on, Akolbire was getting more opportunity on the right as the Hastings press fell away. A succession of corners followed as Hastings were suffocated in their own half, on the third, a clearance fell to Cheshunt midfielder Jack Munns twenty five yards out, who struck a low first time shot into the bottom left corner to equalise.

Jack Munns gets his head over the ball to strike the equaliser (photo Amy Eve)

Full; back Lordon Akolbire was being released into space time & again by the home midfield and his mazy run turned defenders left & right before he clipped a pass into striker Kenny Coker with his back to goal on the edge of the area, he allowed the pass to roll over his left foot and on the turn hit an unstoppable winner on the turn into the far corner with his right foot.

Celebration time ! Kenny Coker with the winner (photo Amy Eve)

Cheshunt should have learnt their lesson from the previous Tuesday when they allowed a winning position to slip, and safely see out the final minutes, but it took a fantastic tip over the bar from keeper Preston Edwards deep into additional time to secure the three points and move the Ambers nine points clear of the 4th relegation spot and looking up the table now, not down.

Line Ups available in the Match Centre

More pictures from the galleries of Scott Lear and Amy Eve available below

Amy Eve Photos

Scott Lear Photos