The ground is a rather down-market copy of Lewes’s Dripping Pan with a large stand facing an empty bank. An impressive crowd of 1176 filled the stands. The ground seems to have wildlife problems with an electric fence surrounding the pitch, evidently to deter foxes and evidence of a colony of pigeons living in the main stand.

Regent made one change from the side that beat Margate with Temi Oladejo replacing Andy George, who came along with newly born daughter, and Ade Sotyinbo added to the bench. Hastings were buoyed by the recent loan signing of Joe Gbode from Gillingham and hoping to get their season started.

Regent kicked off and started brightly. After seven minutes good work started on the left by Harrison Carnegie and Oladejo saw the ball worked from left to right and then slipped through to Luke Skinner who nicked the ball into the goal. Once again Regent had scored first in their current campaign.

Unfortunately, they did not kick on and exploit this advantage. Instead, they went into their shell, sitting back and allowing the hosts to play the ball around in midfield.

The Regent coaching team were dismayed at Hastings playing the ball across the penalty area when after 17 minutes loanee Gbode was given the space to hit the ball from the left hand side and across Charlie Turner into the far side of the goal.

Hastings dominated the rest of the half and dealt robustly with Regent breakways until a lengthy break occurred whilst Hasting’s Chalmers received treatment following a clash of heads. Hastings’ full back Ollie Black showed that he was capable of gigantic throw ins and this forced Oladejo to clear off the line.

It looked as if the half would end even when seven minutes added time was shown until a clash left Oladejo prone just outside the penalty area. The referee, who seemed to put a premium on letting play go on throughout, was unconcerned even though it was playing attackers onside. A moment of indecision saw Regent try to play the ball out rather than kicking for touch and the ball was lost, found Hasler, who hit a fierce shot into the goal from distance. Charlie Turner prevented Regent falling further behind with a fine save as the whistle signalled half time.

Second half
Dom Locke and Nathan Fuma came on for Harrison Carnegie and Temi Oladejo at the start of the second half.

Regent came out and showed more intent at the start of the second half with Jermaine Anderson and Sam Jeremiah combining well to win a corner on one side and Dom Locke and Nathan Fuma doing the same on the left. At the back Regent were still struggling to deal with Black’s throw ins bombarding the goal area.

The game was effectively over after 69 minutes when Gbode walked through two tackles and placed the ball into the far side of the goal to make it 3-1.

Five minutes later Anderson played Connor Barnby in for Regent’s best chance of the second half but his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
As full time approached Regent conceded a fourth from a defensive error when a big clearance bounced over the defence and substitute Hull got in behind and put the chance away.

Match Verdict
Regent made another good start to a game but paid the penalty for sitting back and letting their hosts get back into the game and end up dominating it.

By Paul Ketchley