FOOTBALL: Crucial Week for United’s Future
14 February: Hastings Utd 0, Merstham 0
21 February: Deal Town 3, Hastings Utd 0
HUGH SULLIVAN
Hastings United remain perilously close to the relegation zone of the Isthmian League’s South-East Division after two goalless outings over the past fortnight. And with a home game on Tuesday this week (after this column has gone to press) against free-scoring league leaders Three Bridges – 94 goals scored in 30 games, more than double Hastings’ tally – their position may have deteriorated even further.
Goalmouth action against Merstham
However, weather permitting, the ‘U’s are due to host bottom-of-the table East Grinstead tomorrow (Saturday), followed by an away match against second-bottom Beckenham Town the following Saturday, 7 March. Manager David Altendorff has said – see the interview below – that four wins over the rest of the season should be sufficient to ensure his team’s league survival. These two matches are surely prime opportunities to reach towards that target. East Grinstead have won only one match all season. Beckenham are without a win in their last five games, though four of these were drawn.
To win, however, Hastings have to score, and that has proved increasingly problematic in recent weeks. Since a 3-0 win over other relegation strugglers VCD Athletic on 10 January, Hastings have netted only three goals in six games. Apart from a home defeat by Crowborough Athletic on 20 January, these have all been games against promotion-chasing teams, with two 0-0 draws at home and three heavy defeats away. Even in those defeats, the ‘U’s have tended to match their opponents in midfield for long stretches, but failed to convert goal-scoring chances and found themselves punished at the wrong end by more clinical finishing.
At the Pilot Field on 14 January, a heavy pitch made it difficult for both Hastings and visitors Merstham to work openings at either end. United got the ball in the net in the first half, but Jordan Mase was adjudged to have dribbled the ball marginally over the goal-line before pulling it back, and the goal was disallowed. Merstham’s tricky left winger gave the ‘U’s right back Ezekiel Williams a tough afternoon. Central defenders Sam Pidgeon and Eugene Asike were generally able to keep the rest of the opposing attack at bay, but new keeper Harry Haines, on loan from Bromley, had to make a couple of sharp stops, and the underside of the cross-bar came to his aid when beaten by a powerful shot late on. The draw was probably a fair result, all things considered.
A week later, United travelled in hope to Deal and again carved out some good chances throughout the first half without taking them. But their hosts, having scored on the half-hour mark, added two more early in the second, and there was no way back.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Hastings United | 31 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 41 | 53 | -12 | 33 |
| Erith Town | 29 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 44 | 55 | -11 | 31 |
| Hassocks | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 52 | -16 | 29 |
| VCD Athletic | 30 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 40 | 75 | -35 | 25 |
| Beckenham Town | 26 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 35 | 60 | -25 | 20 |
| East Grinstead Town | 27 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 21 | 104 | -83 | 5 |
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