Three Folkestone players arrived late at the Pilot Field last night following a car accident but it was Hastings who crashed to defeat in this Dr Martens League premier division match.

The visitors started with ten men after a smash near Rye involving Steve Restarick but they snatched the lead with Steve Hafner's 35-yard drive two minutes before half-time.

Scott Lindsey doubled their advantage on the hour and although Danny Simmonds pulled a goal back from the spot late on, it was not enough.

United manager George Wakeling said: "We dominated the first half and it was very disappointing to go in a goal down.

"I'm gutted we lost. The team had no direction and let them back into the game. We can't afford to give away any more sloppy goals."

United, who were without the suspended Duncan McArthur, enjoyed the better of the first half and Simmonds shot wide early on.

In the 21st minute Nick Hegley crossed from the left and Landry Zahana-Oni shot over from close range.

Full-back Steve Yates also spurned a good chance to open the scoring for the home team when his left foot shot was saved by David Wietecha in the Folkestone goal.

Then ex-Wimbledon striker Ellis Remy had a header cleared off the line from Hegley's corner three minutes before half-time.

The visitors promptly punished United's profligacy a minute later when Hafner cracked the ball into Dave King's bottom right hand corner after his initial effort from a free-kick cannoned off the wall.

Remy and Zahana-Oni had chances to equalise before the interval but Folkestone doubled their lead in the 60th minute with a goal from Lindsey after Hastings failed to clear the ball.

Simmonds, who also scored from the spot in United's 2-1 opening day defeat at Worcester, pulled a goal back from the spot in the 82nd minute after Stuart Myall went crashing down in area.

Hastings: King, Yates, Hegley (Webb 65), Playford, Burt, Flanagan, Myall, Zahana-Oni, Honey (Osborne 67), Simmonds, Remy. Sub not used: Simms.

Folkestone Invicta: Wietecha, Hafner, Dryden, Larkin, Daniels, Dyson (Restarick 45), Chandler (Hogg 72), Chambers, Everitt, Tait, Lindsey. Sub not used: Egan.

Referee: Russell Evans (Orpington)