The only goal of this third round qualifying tie came midway through the second half when Neil Midgley struck within a couple of minutes of coming on as a substitute.

A replay was looking on the cards until Southern Premier City enjoyed a purple patch of pressure in which former Manchester United and Liverpool youngster Ramon Calliste fired against the angle of the Hastings goal.

The danger was only half cleared and moments later the ball found its way into the path of Midgley whose well-struck effort proved too hot to handle for Greg Nessling and flew inside the near post.

The goal knocked much of the stuffing out of The U's and other than a looping Marc Whiteman header they never really looked like getting back on level terms.

Prior to the goal there was little to chose between the two teams. Hastings were denied when Frankie Sawyer's clipped finish was headed off the line by Mark Smith and Sam Adams' left foot strike flashed just the wrong side of the post.

The visitors - who gave a debut to new signing Josh Jirbandey - also had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half after Scott Ramsey nodded the ball away from goalkeeper Zac Barrett and appeared to be caught by a mistimed punch.

At the other end, Nessling produced a superb one-handed save to keep out Calliste's low drive, while Robbie Nightingale skied over from eight yards in the dying seconds.

Hastings: Nessling, Spice, Radley, Whyborne, Jirbandey, White (Warren 72), Gonnella, Aadms, Ramsey, Sawyer (Whiteman 74), Attwood (Payne 85). Sub not used: Miltiadou.