TONY DOLBY hailed a fantastic performance by Hastings United as they picked up a crucial 2-1 win at play-off chasers AFC Hornchurch.

Sam Adams smacked home the winner with seven minutes to go after Mark Janney’s 78th-minute penalty had cancelled out Matt Maclean’s opener on the half-hour.

Boss Dolby said: “I used the fact in my team talk that Hornchurch would be thinking this would be an easier game for them after a tough run of away matches and some good results.

“It was a fantastic performance and we outplayed them for large parts of the game.”

Victory lifted United back up to 16th in the Ryman table.

Horsham scored two goals in a game for only the third time this year but a 2-2 draw at home to Boreham Wood effectively ended their slim play-off hopes.

Hornets also suffered another injury problem when Mark Knee hobbled off to add to a lengt hy casualty list, shortly after defender Anthony Acheampong had headed home Russell Eldridge's free kick to give them the lead.

Relegation-threatened Wood levelled just before the break through Sean Sonner but Steve Davies latched onto Darren Budd's pass to restore Horsham's lead early in the second half.

Reggie Savage squandered as good chance to extend the lead and the visitors took advantage when Sonner got his second of the contest after 68 minutes.