Hastings Town reached the Sussex Senior Cup final for a third successive year with victory at Lewes last night.

Goals from Stuart Playford and Steve Yates ended the challenge of cup specialists YM who had keeper Jason Dumbrill sent off 10 minutes from time. Dean White's men will now face Albion Reserves in the final at Langney Sports on Monday, May 1.

White said: "These games are always difficult. It is a big competition and nice to get to the final for a third successive year. To get to the Southern League Cup final and this final, and to still be in with a chance of promotion, makes it a great season for us after everything that went on last summer. We did the job in the first half and I just said to the players at half-time I wanted a clean sheet."

The match was delayed by half an hour because of an accident on the A23. A number of YM players arrived late after being caught in traffic conjection and the County League side made a slow start.

It took Hastings just seven minutes to break the deadlock. YM had several opportunities to get the ball clear but they failed to do so and Playford drove home a low shot from the edge of the area.

Wayne Potter threatened an equaliser on 22 minutes when he headed over from a Phil Fitzgerald corner but Hastings doubled their lead a minute later.

A flicked pass from Danny Simmonds fed Yates and he rode two challenges before nudging in his 12th goal of the season.

YM strikers Matt Russell and Phil Churchill were willing runners but their team-mates were struggling to cope with a tide of Hastings pressure. A cross from Paul Jones was held at the second attempt by Dumbrill, Stuart Myall hooked the ball wide as YM appealed for offside and then Duncan McArthur flashed a shot just past the post.

YM, who had regrouped towards the end of the first half made a bright start to the second with Russell's lifted shot coming back off the crossbar in the 51st minute. Sixteen minutes from time, Hastings almost added a third when a quickly taken free-kick by Simmonds picked out Myall but Dumbrill held his header.

Churchill then carved out an opening at the other end but Tony Kessell saved at the feet of both Lee Butcher and Warren Tilley. The game exploded into life on 80 minutes when Terry White's pass found substitute Sean Loft onside and he was brought down by Dumbrill as he lifted the ball past him.

Dumbrill was somewhat harshly sent off, Stuart McCall took over in goal and his first job was to make a splendid save from White's penalty. McCall, who had been solid throughout, excelled again three minutes later with another fine save from White following Loft's cross.

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