Hastings held by Redhill

Taser Hassan, pictured here on the ball against Whitstable Town last weekend, scored Hastings United's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at home to Redhill. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

Hastings United’s footballers were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Redhill this afternoon (Saturday).

The U’s recovered from going behind early on thanks to Taser Hassan’s second half leveller, but their run without a Ryman Football League Division One South victory extended to five games.

Steve Brinkhurst signed from Lewes just in time to make his United debut, while Jordan Woodley and Tom Vickers also featured in the starting line-up against fourth-from-bottom opposition.

On a sunny but chilly afternoon at The Pilot Field, United had a chance to open the scoring in the very first minute minute when Hassan was denied by away goalkeeper Adam Faith.

But it was the visitors who drew first blood three minutes later. Connor French held off Sean Ray to get on the end of a pass from Reece Hall before beating home goalkeeper Josh Pelling with a low finish.

The same combination then almost conjured up a second for Redhill, French volleying Hall’s free kick just over. United came even closer to an equaliser as Tim Olorunda headed a Sam Adams corner against the crossbar.

Ray headed over from another Adams flag kick and Faith tipped away a very good chip from Woodley, while Joe Bingham shot narrowly wide from just outside the box at the end of a Redhill counter-attack.

Woodley and Adams had free kicks parried by Faith, and Charlie Farmer’s follow-up from the latter was cleared off the line. At the other end, French’s volley following a corner was well-saved by Pelling as United ended the first half trailing.

Luke Wanadio shot wide for Redhill and Adams forced a good save from Faith having surged into the box. The Redhill goalkeeper then dived full length to keep out Hassan’s header from a cross by substitute Evan Archibald.

Campbell spurned a decent opportunity to double Redhill’s lead by ballooning a Wanadio cutback over the top and United levelled soon afterwards. Hassan scored his first United goal at The Pilot Field after more good work from the impressive Woodley in the 64th minute.

Hassan sliced wide from an Adams pass and had a subsequent effort scrambled behind by Faith, while Pelling gathered a 25-yard strike by Joe Goldsmith at the second attempt. Late on Archibald headed over and an Adams shot from distance was deflected wide.