FOOTBALL: Crunch Time for the ‘U’s
1 February:
Hastings Utd 0, Lewes 1
4 February:
Horsham 1, Hastings Utd 0
8 February:
Cheshunt 2, Hastings Utd 1
HUGH SULLIVAN
Hastings United suffered three more Isthmian League defeats in the first eight days of February – that’s seven consecutive league and cup losses in 2025. Six of them have been by the margin of a single goal, and not all of them were deserved on the overall run of play. But the fact is that the ‘U’s have managed to score only five goals in this period. Manager Danny Searle has had success in stemming the haemorrhage of goals at the wrong end, but at the expense, it appears, of hobbling what was already a limited attacking force.
Davide Rodari on the ball for Hastings against Lewes
Against Lewes on 1 February, the ‘U’s had more of the ball and were generally on the front foot – just couldn’t apply a finishing touch, and conceded a penalty 16 minutes from time. Keeper Louis Rogers saved it, but couldn’t stop the rebound. As Searle pointed out afterwards, the visitors had no other shots on target throughout the match, but that was enough.
Away at Horsham, who are third in the league table, Hastings had to defend for long periods, but Searle said his lads had “stuck to the game plan…We had a real go at them and caused them some problems”. The only goal was conceded in the 70th minute.
Making the long journey to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire last Saturday, the ‘U’s scored in the 12th minute when Davide Rodari headed in from a Kian Moynes cross – the first league goal scored by the ‘U’s in open play since the beginning of January. They remained good value for their 1-0 halftime lead, but were pegged back to 1-1 just after the hour mark and then succumbed to a sucker punch two minutes into added time.
To make matters worse, Dulwich Hamlet, the team in 18th position which Hastings will need to overhaul if they are to escape relegation, won 3-0 on the same afternoon against Bowers & Pitsea. That widened the gap between them to nine points.
It’s by no means unbridgeable with 14 matches still to play. But now is crunch time. Hastings were due to play a home fixture against Canvey Island on Tuesday of this week (after this column went to press), then host Dulwich themselves at the Pilot Field tomorrow (Saturday) and play a third successive match at home against Wingate & Finchley the following Saturday. All three visiting teams are in the bottom half of the league table. United’s task is clear: they have to start scoring – and winning.
Isthmian Premier League Standings as at 10 February (bottom six)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
| 17 | Whitehawk | 29 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 51 | -18 | 33 |
| 18 | Dulwich Hamlet | 29 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 45 | 56 | -11 | 32 |
| 19 | Hendon | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 38 | 47 | -9 | 28 |
| 20 | Hastings Utd | 28 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 27 | 55 | -28 | 23 |
| 21 | Bowers & Pitsea | 30 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 27 | 56 | -29 | 19 |
| 22 | Bognor Regis | 30 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 35 | 76 | -41 | 18 |
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