FOOTBALL: League Improvement After Cup Collapse
18 November: Broadbridge Heath 5, Hastings Utd 1
22 November: Hastings Utd 1, Jersey Bulls 0
29 November: Erith Town 1, Hastings Utd 3
HUGH SULLIVAN
The second half of November began poorly for Hastings United as a weakened line-up sank to heavy defeat in the Sussex Senior Cup at Broadbridge. But two Isthmian League games on the past two Saturdays have brought much improved performances from a team returned to full strength. And the two resulting victories have moved them to the relative comfort of 15th place in the Isthmian South-East League table, four above the relegation zone.
Jordan Mase in action for Hastings
The cup match can be passed over quickly. Manager David Altendorff rested key defender Sam Pidgeon and first choice midfielders Jordan Mase and George Taggart. The ‘U’s went two goals down, got one back before halftime from a fierce strike by Walter Figueira, but conceded two more early in the second half and eventually succumbed 5-1.
Four days later, they hosted Jersey Bulls in an early kick-off at the Pilot Field. The visitors opted for a direct approach but found Pidgeon and Eugene Asike dominant in the air, whilst United left- back Sonny Causton and midfielder Jack Saunders both excelled in turning defensive duties into counter-attack. Ahead of them, Mase and Taggart, restored to the side, brought an attacking cohesion and dynamism which have been missing for much of the season.
Forwards James Stone and Fin Chapman enjoyed the service they provided, but it was Asike who put Hastings ahead in the 16th minute, crashing the ball joyously into the back of the net after Chapman’s header from a corner had rebounded along the goal-line.
The ‘U’s retained midfield superiority for the rest of the half, but as they tired in the second, the visitors gained increasing possession, hit the woodwork themselves, and came close on a couple of other occasions before the final whistle confirmed the 1-0 home victory. It was only the second occasion in 23 league and cup matches since the middle of August that the Hastings team had kept their opposition goal-less.
Last Saturday they travelled to Erith Town, with an unchanged starting line-up. The two teams had contested a drab 0-0 draw at the Pilot Field in the first match of the season back in August, and were starting this one level on points in the league table. On a wet and windy afternoon it took the ‘U’s nearly 40 minutes to open the scoring. Again it came from a corner: the ball was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, from where Stone powered it back into the net.
In the second half Altendorff enhanced United’s attack by bringing on Figueira in place of Alfie Hilden, and was swiftly rewarded when the substitute produced a smart finish to double the score. Even better, a second substitute Finlay Lovatt, making his debut as replacement for Saunders, netted a third goal with almost his first touch. A second successive clean sheet looked probable until the Kent side scored a consolation goal late on.
Tomorrow (Saturday) the ‘U’s are scheduled to host another Kent side in the bottom four of the league, Sevenoaks Town
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