Ryan Rummery made it five goals in two games with a double as Horsham ran out comfortbale winners against Sussex rivals Hastings United at the Pilot Field.

The fit-again striker marked his first start of the season with a hat-trick as Hornets beat Leatherhead 4-1 on Saturday.

Last night he rammed in a brace as hosts Hastings were condemned to a second defeat in four days.

The home side, who were beaten by leaders AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, had no answer to the slick approach play of their opponents.

Horsham took the game by the scruff of the neck with two goals in the opening half hour.

They opened the scoring on 13 minutes through Rummery whose shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off a covering defender.

It should have been 2-0 just a couple of minutes later when Florian Mateos was brought down in the penalty box by Sean Ray.

Fortunately for Hastings, Lee Carney directed the resultant spot kick well wide of the post.

But the midfielder made amends just before the half hour by rounding off a neat move with a cool finish beyond stranded keeper Greg Nessling.

Hastings tried to get a foothold in the game early in the second half but Steve Hafner was twice denied by Horsham stopper Luke Burton.

Carl Rook then wasted a glorious chance by volleying over from close range.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side on 55 minutes when Rummery claimed his second of the night by getting on the end of an inviting cross from Carlo Castrechino.

Rook, Jon Wallis and Mitchell Sherwood all went close to claiming a consolation goal while only a good save prevented Rummery from completing his hat-trick.