By Oliver Birch, Sports Editor
The University of Brighton’s Hastings Panthers have been knocked out of the South Eastern Conference Plate following a 4-3 defeat against Portsmouth University.
The University of Brighton’s Hastings Panthers have been knocked out of the South Eastern Conference Plate following a 4-3 defeat against Portsmouth University.
For the second game in a row, Hastings were behind inside the opening 10 minutes following another slow start.
Portsmouth were allowed too much time and space on the ball in midfield, before picking out the run of the striker who cut inside on his right-foot to slot past Matt Milne.
The lead didn’t last long however, as Hastings went in search of the equaliser. Quick work from the Panthers midfield sent winger Mustapha Gray through on goal, before he was bundled over in the area by the Portsmouth centre-backs.
The referee pointed straight to the spot and captain Oliver Birch stepped up, to dispatch the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner and level the scoreline.
However, the Panthers failed to build any momentum and fell behind for the second time midway through the first-half.
With too much time and space once again in the middle, the Portsmouth striker was played through
from the midfield. Hastings centre-back Darcy Hollis forced him wide before Milne came out to block any attempt, and it looked as though the chance had gone.
The forward had other ideas however and cut inside to the edge of the area, before dinking his shot over the sprawling Milne and past Hollis on the line to restore the away side’s lead.
But for the second time in the match, Hastings drew level before half-time. A quick counter-attack sent Brian Maka through on goal with the Portsmouth ‘keeper, before the striker finished at the third time of asking after seeing his first two attempts blocked.
Following the Panthers’ heroic second-half performance against the University of East London in the last round, the home side were confident of producing a similar display once again.
However when the away side regained their lead just 10 minutes into the second-half, heads began to drop.
A clever turn on the edge of the area sent the Portsmouth striker through on goal, and the forward fired a low drive past Milne to complete his hat-trick.
Matters went from bad to worse for the home side midway through the second-half when the away side grabbed a rather fortuitous fourth.
Portsmouth’s second-half substitute was played through on the right-hand side before being given too much time once again, to look up and cross for the striker.
However the attempted cross was sliced and the ball spun over Milne, before nestling in the far corner to double their lead.
Time was quickly running out for the home side, who began to press forward. And with just 10 minutes remaining, Gray had a chance to bring the Panthers back into the tie.
Zak Jakubowski switched the play to Gray, who drove into the Portsmouth penalty area, before having his effort brilliantly tipped over the bar.
The home side did manage to pull one back two minutes before the end however. Angus Sutton, brought on for his debut as a second-half substitute, tapped home from two yards out to give the
Panthers hope.
But their efforts to draw level came to no avail as Portsmouth saw the final seconds out to progress through to the Last 16.
Hastings meanwhile return to league action against Chichester next week, looking to make it two wins from two in the league.
Portsmouth were allowed too much time and space on the ball in midfield, before picking out the run of the striker who cut inside on his right-foot to slot past Matt Milne.
The lead didn’t last long however, as Hastings went in search of the equaliser. Quick work from the Panthers midfield sent winger Mustapha Gray through on goal, before he was bundled over in the area by the Portsmouth centre-backs.
The referee pointed straight to the spot and captain Oliver Birch stepped up, to dispatch the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner and level the scoreline.
However, the Panthers failed to build any momentum and fell behind for the second time midway through the first-half.
With too much time and space once again in the middle, the Portsmouth striker was played through
from the midfield. Hastings centre-back Darcy Hollis forced him wide before Milne came out to block any attempt, and it looked as though the chance had gone.
The forward had other ideas however and cut inside to the edge of the area, before dinking his shot over the sprawling Milne and past Hollis on the line to restore the away side’s lead.
But for the second time in the match, Hastings drew level before half-time. A quick counter-attack sent Brian Maka through on goal with the Portsmouth ‘keeper, before the striker finished at the third time of asking after seeing his first two attempts blocked.
Following the Panthers’ heroic second-half performance against the University of East London in the last round, the home side were confident of producing a similar display once again.
However when the away side regained their lead just 10 minutes into the second-half, heads began to drop.
A clever turn on the edge of the area sent the Portsmouth striker through on goal, and the forward fired a low drive past Milne to complete his hat-trick.
Matters went from bad to worse for the home side midway through the second-half when the away side grabbed a rather fortuitous fourth.
Portsmouth’s second-half substitute was played through on the right-hand side before being given too much time once again, to look up and cross for the striker.
However the attempted cross was sliced and the ball spun over Milne, before nestling in the far corner to double their lead.
Time was quickly running out for the home side, who began to press forward. And with just 10 minutes remaining, Gray had a chance to bring the Panthers back into the tie.
Zak Jakubowski switched the play to Gray, who drove into the Portsmouth penalty area, before having his effort brilliantly tipped over the bar.
The home side did manage to pull one back two minutes before the end however. Angus Sutton, brought on for his debut as a second-half substitute, tapped home from two yards out to give the
Panthers hope.
But their efforts to draw level came to no avail as Portsmouth saw the final seconds out to progress through to the Last 16.
Hastings meanwhile return to league action against Chichester next week, looking to make it two wins from two in the league.