FOOTBALL: Chalmers Comeback Boosts United Prospects
1 January:
Cray Wanderers 0, Hastings Utd 0
6 January:
Cheshunt 2, Hastings Utd 3
13 January:
Hastings Utd 2, Dulwich Hamlet 2
HUGH SULLIVAN
Hastings United have stretched their unbeaten run to ten games since they lost at home to Canvey Island on 25 November. That’s all the more impressive when you consider that eight of those games have been away – five in the league, two in the Velocity Cup, one at Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex Cup. It’s never been a better time to be a ‘U’s travelling supporter.
Tom Chalmers scoring second goal
The only blots on the team’s record over this time have been less than lustrous showings in home matches at the Pilot Field. In their only home fixture in December the ‘U’s were held to a 1-1 draw by Bognor Regis Town. And last Saturday, despite the cold conditions, a crowd of over 2,100 saw them draw 2-2 with Dulwich Hamlet after twice taking the lead.
The latter game was distinguished not only by the impressive number of spectators, augmented by a sizeable contingent of Hamlet supporters, but by the triumphant return of Tom Chalmers, who has been missing from the United ranks for a year with anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament injuries. It took the 21-year-old just 22 minutes to put himself on the scoresheet with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Six minutes into the second half he doubled his tally after collecting a pass over the top of the visitors’ defence. If anyone doubted whether he would ever again ghost past defenders as he used to do, here was proof: he still can.
His return is a major boost for manager Chris Agutter as he plots the possibilities of his team reaching a play-off position in the league. Jack Bates, who sparkled briefly in his loan spell from Derby County, has returned there. However, a midfield which now contains Chalmers, Adam Lovatt and Jack Dixon, another returnee to the ‘U’s this month following just half a season at Whitehawk, is a force to be reckoned with.
Hastings remains sixth in the league table. Their next two fixtures pit them against teams just below them – away at Carshalton Athletic tomorrow (Saturday), then home to Hashtag United on 27 January.
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