Monday 16 December 2013. Ryman League, Division One South.

Hastings United 3 Walton & Hersham 1 (Abandoned after 62 mins., waterlogged pitch).

Swans are now faced with a third long trip to East Sussex after the abandonment of this rearranged match, following the late postponement of the original match a few weeks previously for the same reason, a waterlogged pitch. With matches at the Pilot Field seldom being called off for this reason, Swans will feel particularly unfortunate to suffer the same fate twice. The plus side for Swans however, was that they were losing 3-1 at the time of the abandonment just past the hour mark.

It was always going to be a difficult task for Swans against a side unbeaten at home and second in the table, and who did not play on Saturday, while they were playing their second match in three days. They also lacked the services of leading scorer Will Turl, injured, and Ashley Thompson, unavailable. Swans’ problems increased after Jon Boswell had to come off after less than half an hour with a hamstring problem, and goalkeeper Dane Buss was left limping from early in the first-half.

André Scarlett made a welcome return however after serving a one-match suspension, while Louis Glace-Palmer came in for Turl. Greg Ngeno and John Clark retained their places after coming on the previous Saturday for Chris Grayland and Merrick James-Lewis.

Swans should have got off to the perfect start by taking the lead inside the first minute. Mu Maan’s through ball sent Glace-Palmer racing clear, but with just home keeper Josh Pelling to beat he drove the ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

Hastings almost punished the miss immediately when Kenny Pogue broke away down the right, but drove a strong shot just over. Boswell then had to head behind over his own goal when Sam Adams sent over a dangerous cross from the right.

But, as at Burgess Hill, Swans fell behind to an early goal, conceding after nine minutes. Tom Vickers was allowed to get forward unchallenged before driving in a terrific shot from outside the box that Buss got a hand to but could not stop.

Swans went close to equalising straight away when Samad Kazi did well on the left before cutting back and driving in a superb right-foot shot that flew inches past the far-post with keeper Pelling seeming to get a touch, but a goal-kick was awarded.

Hastings doubled their lead after twelve minutes, taking advantage of some poor Swans’ defending. The home side were allowed far too much space, and with Matt Pooley caught out of position the ball was laid back from the left to Danny Ellis on the edge of the box, and he had the time to drive a low shot into the bottom, left corner.

Swans’ build-up play was good, and midway through the half a free-kick got Scarlett in on the right, and his cross forced Pelling to punch the ball behind.

Hastings had another chance outside the box, and Andy Henson drove a shot wide.

Just before the half hour Kazi got down the left for Swans to get the ball inside, but Juan Onieva was finally crowded out, and when the ball broke to Kazi, he stabbed it wide of the left-post. Grayland immediately replaced Boswell, who had been struggling with his injury for some time.

Swans were fortunate not to fall further behind five minutes before the break when Pogue headed against the bar from a left-side cross. But Kazi was soon testing Pelling with a low shot from 25 yards after cutting inside from the left.

Two minutes after the resumption Glace-Palmer was just denied after being played in by Kazi, but Andy Lomas was immediately tripped inside the left of the box and a penalty was awarded that Onieva drove home to put Swans back in the game.

But only five minutes later the ball was lost in midfield and Adams was played through to side-step Buss and restore Hastings’ two goal lead.

With an hour played Swans played a short-corner on the left and Pelling had to save a low shot from outside the box from Clark. But the rain, that had been fairly light before kick-off, had become increasingly heavier as the match progressed, resulting in standing water and the ball being difficult to move, and with 62 minutes on his watch the referee blew his whistle to call a premature halt to proceedings.

Swans’ Team: Dane Buss, Matt Pooley, Andy Lomas, André Scarlett, Greg Ngeno, Jon Boswell (Chris Grayland 28’), Mu Maan, John Clark, Louis Glace-Palmer, Juan Onieva, Samad Kazi (Dylan Cascoe 55’). Sub. not used: Ryan Marklew. Scorer: Onieva, penalty (48’).

Hastings Team: Pelling, Gilbert, Henson, Olorunda, Judge, Kelly, Ellis, Darby, Pogue, Adams, Vickers. Subs. not used: McCreadie, Dolan, Woodley, Pacheco, Corrigan. Scorers: Vickers (9’), Ellis (12’), Adams (53’). Cautions: Gilbert, foul (17’), Vickers, foul (58’).