24 February: Hastings Utd 0, Three Bridges 3
28 February: Hastings Utd 3, East Grinstead Town 0
7 March: Beckenham Town 1, Hastings Utd 3

Hastings United went down 3-0 in a midweek home encounter with Isthmian League leaders Three Bridges on 24 February. However, they have bounced back with victories against the bottom two sides on two subsequent Saturdays, opening up a healthy ten-point gap between them and the nearest side in the relegation zone. Only a total collapse in their last eight games would bring doom upon them, and there’s no reason on current form to fear that.

The game against East Grinstead, contested on a heavy but playable surface at the Pilot Field, was in truth somewhat frustrating for both players and supporters. The visitors had won only one league game all season (back in September) and had shipped 22 goals in their last three. The ‘U’s duly scored three goals in a nine-minute period midway through the first half through Fin Chapman, new recruit Max Walsh and Lukas Franzen-Jones, and should have scored a hatful more in the second half, with Franzen-Jones and Jordan Mase both contriving to miss in front of a gaping net. At the other end they gave away a needless penalty and had loanee keeper Harry Haines for keeping the defensive sheet clean with a superb save, diving full length to his right.

Away at Beckenham seven days later, Hastings went two up within 14 minutes, Franzen-Jones atoning for his profligacy of the previous Saturday by scoring both. A penalty was then conceded, this time tucked away, and the ‘U’s held their precarious 2-1 lead for the rest of the afternoon, until the 90th minute when Mase also made amends for previous misses with a sumptuous finish to spark joyous celebration.


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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sport.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/sport.jpgHIPFootballSportEast Grinstead Town,Hastings United,Isthmian League,Three Bridges24 February: Hastings Utd 0, Three Bridges 328 February: Hastings Utd 3, East Grinstead Town 07 March: Beckenham Town 1, Hastings Utd 3 Hastings United went down 3-0 in a midweek home encounter with Isthmian League leaders Three Bridges on 24 February. However, they have bounced back with victories against...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper