United make tame league cup exit

United’s interest in the 2011/12 knockout competitions ended tonight (Tuesday) with a 2-0 loss at home to Bury Town in a Ryman League Cup quarter-final.

Both goals came in the second half. John Sands put Bury ahead in the 67th minute by squeezing the ball home on the turn at the near post and the same player added the second 11 minutes later following a mistake by Josh Jirbandey.

United were distinctly second best for much of this all-Premier Division tie and managed just one meaningful attempt at goal all night, an 84th minute header by player-manager Sean Ray which was nodded off the line.

The U’s gave a debut to striker Tamer Tuna, a new signing from Welling United. A full report will appear in Friday’s Hastings Observer.

United (4-4-2): Armstrong-Ford; Willett, Ray, Jirbandey, Manning; Ellis (Woodley 59), Crellin, Carey, Davisson (Pogue 73); Tuna (Barham 84), Attwood.