Post-debut vow from Hastings' new Football League star

The Pilot Field recruit came on with 21 minutes left of the tie at Dean Court, in which the Reds put up a brave fight before losing 2-1.

Rodari, whose signing at the People’s Pension Stadium was confirmed only the day before the game, couldn’t save Crawley from going out but was delighted to get on.

He tweeted afterwards: “What a moment making my professional debut against @afcbournemouth! This is only the beginning.”

Crawley and Hastings fans were among those to congratulate the 21-year-old on his debut, and he will hope to be in John Yems’ squad again on Saturday when Crawley visit leaders Cambridge United in League Two.

Another to congratulate him on his move from one side of Sussex to the other was Worthing boss Adam Hinshelwood, the man who gave him his Hastings debut.

Yems had praise for his whole squad after their effort at Dean Court, which ended a Cup run that had seen them beat Torquay, AFC Wimbledon and, memorably, Leeds United.

Yems said: “We have put on a good show, have beaten some good sides, and made a bit of history but on the night we just weren’t up to it.

“I told you all along we wouldn’t give in, but at the end of the day you pick the bit of paper up and we lost 2-1.

“We have just got to learn from it and move on.”

Earlier in the week Yems said Rodari was a player he had been keeping tabs on for some time.