After the misery of the defeat at Tooting on Monday, Sutton bounced back with a victory at Gander Green Lane on Saturday that was a fitting reward for what was probably the most fluent of their performances so far this season. But for the failure to take their chances that has become a familiar failing in the first fortnight they would have had a more comfortable time of it against a Hastings side who had had their own problems on Monday with a heavy defeat at home to Maidstone, and who although they contributed to an entertaining game were often at full stretch to keep U’s attack under control. U’s should have had a reward for their bright start after just thirteen minutes when Gavin McCallum, who had already grazed the crossbar with a cross-cum-shot from the left, was nudged over in the penalty area by defender Nathan Russell as he turned on to a pass. Referee Oleksandr Saliy, who had an excellent game, pointed immediately to the spot but McCallum’s weakly struck penalty was easily saved by Greg Nessling. U’s striker, who might have been comforted when he saw several established Premier League stars take similarly unimpressive penalties on Match of the Day, didn’t have to wait long for more tangible redemption, though, as he raced on to a long pass from Matt Hann, held off the challenge of a defender, and drilled a low shot in to the net from a narrow angle. Craig Dundas, who was unmarked in the six-yard box as McCallum fired home, might have had something to say had the ball not gone in, but his own chance came within a minute when a cross fell to him just inside the area, but his shot was saved by Nessling. Two minutes later, though, Hastings were level as Antonio Gonella timed his run superbly to catch U’s defence napping as the ball was played through from the left, and went on to slip the ball past Paul Nicholls as he came out. That was the prelude to Hastings’ best spell of the game and Nicholls had to make two good saves, firstly coming off his line quickly to deny Matt McLean after a pass from Sam Adams had left him in space on the left, and then diving low to his right to turn aside McLean’s header from Gonella’s cross. U’s came out strongly at the start of the second half, and Hann pounced on a half-cleared free kick to thump in a volley that Nessling was well placed to stop. U’s weren’t to be denied, though, and went ahead when Dean Palmer, badly missed in the defeat at Tooting, split the defence with a pass that was anticipated by Delando Smith, and having impressed with some lively wing play in the first half on his first start of the season, Smith kept his cool to roll the ball past the advancing Nessling. Hastings again looked for a quick response, with Nicholls again called in to action as he turned aside a low shot from McLean and then came out quickly to dive at the feet of substitute Frankie Sawyer, who had only been on for two minutes. That was as close as Hastings were to come to a second equaliser, but U’s couldn’t find the third goal that would have made for a more relaxing finish to the game. Hann came close when he wriggled his way in to a shooting position on the right but then hit the bar, but the best chances fell to substitutes Adam Roberts and Steve McKimm in the last three minutes, Roberts blazing over from close range after a low cross from the right and McKimm dragging a shot wide after a good move had split the defence open.

Hastings: G Nessling, D Spice, B Radley(sub M Miltiadou 55), R Whybourne, N Russell, J Franklin, A Gonella(sub F Sawyer 55), B White, S Ramsay(sub M Whiteman 78), S Adams, M McLean . Sub n/u S Marshall. Booked: Spice (40-foul).

Matt Hann takes on the Hastings right back.


Gavin McCallum is brought down for a penalty.


McCallum beats the 'keeper at the near post.


Delando Smith watches his shot go in.


Smith celebrates his first goal for the club.


Steve McKimm's late effort goes narrowly wide.