Borough manager Brendon Phillips believes he has found the striker to replace the mercurial Malcolm Christie.

Christie set Borough off to a marvellous start to the season with eleven goals in as many games before being signed by the Premiership club Derby County.

But Phillips signed Joe O'Connor from Hednesford Town on Friday night, pushed him straight into the side and sat back to watch him create danger all over the pitch for Hastings.

He scored Borough's first goal and made another on an impressive debut.

Hastings were fourth in the league and were entitled to expected to make a better match of it. But they were seldom in the hunt as the league leaders systematically dismantled their defence.

O'Connor scored in the 20th minute and Richie Gardner added to that before half-time. Any hopes Hastings entertained of getting back into the match were scotched by Anton Thomas who rattled in two second half goals to take his season's total to eight.