Memories of Leatherhead were banished as the Dons ran out 3-1 winners to record their eight win of the season.
Goals from Richie Butler and Joe Sheerin had looked to be enough but a Sean Ray effort set up a nervy last 15 before substitute Martin Randall stooped low- very low - to wrap up the points.
A lively first period from both sides offering hopes for a second half goal feast.
Visitors Hastings look vulnerable to high balls into the box but with Carl Rook and the pacey Dexley Fidyk - who only started due to first choice striker Chris Honey failing to negotiate the Kingston one-way-system - leading the Hastings line with some panache, the game remains firmly in the balance.
Chris Gell was the man to go closest for the Dons twice denied by fine one handed saves from Greg Nessling in the curiously nicknamed U's goal. First he saw his header clawed over the bar before Nessling went one better with an instinctive save to deny one of the Dons best performers. Fellow midfielder, Jon Barrie Bates also showing some nice touches following his selection ahead of Gavin Bolger.
Hastings best effort was a fierce shot from Alan Tutton that flew inches over the bar but with Antony Howard and Glenn Wilson particularly catching the eye, Danny Naisbitt's goal was hardly threatened.
Butler escaped the attention of his marker to fire wide as the Dons began to up the pressure at the start of the second half. And with Sheerin starting to find space as the burgeoning new forward pairing begins to find it feet, the breakthrough appeared inevitable.
Suddenly the Meadow was rocking and on 62 minutes, the effervescent Richie Butler was set free by the golden feet of Robert Ursell, ignored his strike partner and fired home at the near post.
It was the same triumvirate that made the instant second as Ursell again finds Butler whose effort is parried only to the advancing Sheerin who chips home effortlessly from 22 yards to demonstrate his class yet again.
Memories of Leatherhead are immediately evoked as Sean Ray takes advantage of a static Dons defence to prod home a fine through ball from the Hastings captain Jimmy Elford.
But the Dons prove less brittle this week though and only the safe hands of the U's keeper prevent Ryan Gray from adding to the tally as his free kick is tipped over for a Dons corner.
From the resulting corner, substitute Gavin Bolger is set up by Sheerin but his placed shot is easily taken by Nessling.
The final word is left to Randall who heads home at shin level to send the 2800 plus crowd home happy.
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