Hastings United are ready to throw new striker Frank Sawyer straight into action in a bid to boost their ailing season.

United slumped to their fifth successive defeat as they lost 3-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon in front of a crowd of 1,536.

Sawyer, 18, signed from Conference club Welling, scored on his club debut as the reserves defeated Hailsham 3-0.

He is set to turn out for Nigel Kane's second string in the Hastings Intermediate Cup match at home to Rye on Wednesday and could be in contention to lead the line at Boreham Wood on Saturday.

Kane said: "We'll see how things go but he seems to be settling in well."

Kane felt the defeat against AFC Wimbledon hinged on a controversial penalty award, from which Mark de Bolla cancelled out Scott Kirkwood's first Hastings goal before former Albion player Daniel Webb scored twice.

Kane said: "It's the third penalty we've conceded recently. It was too far away for me to judge but Jimmy Elford, who was adjudged to have committed the foul, said his tackle was a good one and he's honest."

Meanwhile, Hastings have missed out on targets Steve Sergeant and Mitchell Sherwood.

Assistant manager Norman Kane said: "It was down to money and they accepted bigger offers from other clubs that we weren't able to match."