Potters Bar Town beaten 3-1 at home by Hastings United

A Davide Rodari double had given Hastings a comfortable lead at half-time but the Scholars were vastly improved after the break, Brandon Adams reducing the deficit with a penalty 11 minutes in.

But try as they might, Town could not rescue what would have been a deserved point and a John Ufuah goal with the final kick meant it finished 3-1.

With the Scholars comfortably up towards mid-table and Hastings out of the play-off race, this had the feel of an end of season game even before kick-off.

The first period did little to alter that perception.

The long throw of Ollie Black was the biggest talking point of the first half as he launched delivery after delivery into the home box from almost any area inside the Bar half.

It made the visitors have more pressure than perhaps they deserved but it put the Scholars on the defensive, Ore Bello making more vital touches in his own box than at the other end.

In the end the opening goal came from an old-fashioned ball over the top.

John Ufuah chased it and but was met by Finn Rushton, coming to the edge of his area.

However, he was bamboozled by the bounced, only managing to get the top of this head to it.

It was nodded back over him and although Prosper Keto stopped the first attempt, Rodari was following up and headed it in.

The second came from a corner from the right that was delivered to the edge of the box and headed back into the middle.

Rushton came to meet it but was coming through traffic and come only punch it slightly to his right.

And unfortunately for him, Rodari was there to collect his second gift and roll it home.

The Scholars had not had too much in front of Charlie Grainger in the Hastings goal but he had to make a smart save to prevent a Brandon Adams flick from going in.

The Bar striker, who has signed a new two-year contract at the Lantern Stadium, did get the better of him in stoppage time but after cutting in from the right, his shot somehow hit Sam Gale on the line and the appeals he'd used his hands to do so were waved away.

The second half started no doubt with the Bar players having got a flea in their ear, and they made one change too, Jordan Watson on for Dwight Pascal.

And they almost made a superb start.

Shane Cojocarel made the break, Babalola dummying his pass and leaving it for an unmarked Bello.

His shot though was too close to the keeper.

But shortly after there were two big moments, which ultimately led to Bar pulling one back.

It started with Samrai Gebrai getting fouled and falling in the box, with the linesman flagging furiously.

Consultation between the officials decided it was a foul but outside of the area.

The free-kick was thumped into the wall but when Gebrai hit the rebound, it struck a Hastings hand and this time a penalty was given.

Adams did the rest.

All of the pressure was now coming from the Scholars with Temi Bablola heading over and Gebrai having the ball pinched off his toes inside the box.

They were susceptible to the counter and Rushton had to make a good save to prevent Ufuah scoring, his defence recovering to prevent the rebounds from finding the net.

The Bar keeper then made an even better save to prevent Rodari from completing his hat-trick.

The final flurry saw a free-kick from deep on the right, which sent Rushton up.

But after Adams shot was blocked, Ufuah ran up the other end and scored what would have been classed as an empty net goal in ice hockey.

Tough on the Scholars but you can't gift teams lead.

Match details

Potters Bar Town: Rushton, Fernandes, Keto, Pascal (Watson 46), Gebrai, B.Adams, Edwards, Bello, Cojocarel (Hutchison 72), Aidoo, Babalola.

Subs (not used): Hayles, Jessop, Adaja.

Goals: B.Adams (pen) 56

Booked: 

Hastings United: Grainger, Black, Dixon, Rodari, Janneh, Ufuah, Fagg, Walker, Harley (S.Adams 73), Chapman, Gale.

Subs (not used): Hull, Chalmers, Moynes, Jenks.

Goals: Rodari 33, 43, Ufuah 90+7

Booked: Dixon

HT: Potters Bar Town 0 Hastings United 2

Added time: 9

Referee: Jorden Gibson (Stevenage)

Attendance: 164