Landry Zahoni-Oni's instinctive finish was good enough to see Hastings progress in the FA Trophy, as Chelmsford bowed out in the 1st Round.

Two Cup exits within the space of a month now mean it is the league that takes priority for Paul Parker's men, and they can have few complaints based on their display at the Pilot Field on Saturday.

Hastings, enjoying their first season back in the Dr Martens Premier Division after a three year absence, would have preferred an easier clash for this Trophy 1st Round clash, but coming off the back of their 5-0 demolition of Kettering in the FA Cup in the week, were predictably fearless.

Zahoni-Oni, sometimes ploughing something of a one-man tyrade up front, was a threat throughout, twice stinging Paul Nicholls' palms in the first half.

Austin Berkley, paired with new man Dale Watkins - an escapee of Kettering's Conference woes - did well with a shot and turn early on but couldn't keep his effort down.

With the first half coming to a close, a dangerous looking foray by City saw Watkins negotiate space, but he could only spoon his effort into the side netting.

The second half belonged more to Hastings. Nick Hegley's shot looked goalbound before Gary Cross got in the way, before Zahoni-Oni made the breakthrough with a cultured lob on 69 minutes over the stranded Nicholls when there seemed little danger.

Rocked, City were lucky not to concede another as the former Leyton Orient striker again worried Nicholls.

Mike Rutherford pushed forward in order to rally City with a last push, but strikers Phil Gray and Watkins were elsewhere when it mattered, and City were out.

Published Sunday November 3, 2002