The final minutes of the half saw City on the offensive. Clements thought he had doubled City's advantage when he netted at the far post from a Simpson cross but it was ruled out for a foul in the box. In the final minute Hastings' Paul Ruddy found himself in the referee's notebook following a crude challenge from behind on Simpson, a booking that was to have dire consequences for the midfielder later in the game.
The second half saw Hastings come at City with renewed vigour and after only two minutes Martin Davies watched a Playford volley whistle over his bar, soon after, he was picking the ball out of the net. Steve Yates won the ball in midfield and broke forward, supplying a pass into Remy, a quick turn lost Colin Vowden and he let fly from 18yds, Davies got plenty on the ball but could only divert it into the roof of the net.
City should have recaptured the lead within a minute. From the kick-off they pressed forward ending with Hayes producing a defence splitting pass that saw Clements easily outpace Tommy Osbourne before playing a dangerous ball into the six yard area. Bloomfield beat Adam Flanagan to the ball but as he slid in could only scoop his effort over the bar. Zahana-Oni so nearly made City pay for that miss a few minutes later. After seeing off the attentions of Che Wilson the big frenchman spotted Davies off his line and attempted an ordacious chip that saw the City keeper furiously rushing back, clutching the ball just before it dropped under the bar.
City hit back with Simpson forcing King to get down well to save after the youngster fired in a goalbound shot through a sea of legs, but minutes later, Hastings came within an ace of going in front with a chance created by the most direct style of football. King sent a free-kick downfield, Danny Simmonds flicked onto Remy whose volleyed pass found Zahana-Oni who caught it full on the volley, his 25yd shot skimming off the top of the bar, much to the relief of Davies who was hopelessly beaten.
With ten minutes left City got the vital breakthrough. Kevin Wilkin - on as a 73rd minute substitute for Clements - did well to battle to the byeline before pulling the ball back to Shane Wardley, he in turn found Rob Nightingale who attempted to burst between two defenders, a tackle relieved him of the ball but it rolled to Bloomfield who powered a shot from the edge of the area beyond King and into the far corner. City came close to a third goal when Bloomfield almost profited from a slightly underhit back-pass by Playford but King was alert to the danger and rushed out to claim the ball with a stretching Bloomfield inches from making contact.
With two minutes left, Ruddy let his frustration get the better of him as he said a little too much to the referee, received a second yellow for dissent and made an early exit from the field to end a miserable day for the home side. City left Pilot Field with not only the points but also revenge for Hastings win at Milton Road back in October.
Post match reaction
Gary Roberts
I thought we were good value for the win again. We had one or two good opportunities in the first half, but then again so did they. In the second half we took control. They were not a very disciplined unit, so it was a case of keeping our discipline and we would eventually come through.
I was very pleased with Danny Bloomfield, I thought he was a constant threat up front but everyone worked their socks off yesterday, they really did. We were obviously dealt a blow on Friday with Tim Wooding being ruled out, that meant that Matt Rice came in for his first game in nine months, and he did really well.
I was confident we would eventually win yesterday. I said to Jez George during the game that if we could keep our discipline we would win the game. In fact, I thought we would win it more comfortably than we did. They were restricted really to long hopeful balls and trying to force set plays in order to win the game.
It's important to keep the momentum going. Its a difficult tie for us next week against Moor Green. They are an in-and-out sort of a team, they can be excellent one week and poor the next. It depends what you get on the day really. As far as our own form is concerned, at home we need to improve slightly. At the moment we seem suited to playing away, and playing on the break. Hopefully we can transfer our away form to our own patch.
Hopefully we can bring in a player for next week. I`ll be speaking to Bradley Quinton in the next day or two and I'm hoping he will join us, and by doing so, that will give us more options. It was a very satisfactory afternoon yesterday, and a good trip back too. The away support for the team was great to see. The team are trying really hard and this gives the fans something to relate to. If you are going to travel two hours or more to a game, as a fan, you want to see some effort from your side at the end of the day.
