FOOTBALL: The Business End of the Season
HASTINGS UTD 1, CHATHAM TOWN 1
HASTINGS UTD 1, HORNCHURCH 0
HORSHAM 2, HASTINGS UTD 1
HUGH SULLIVAN
Davide Rodari (in white) in action against Horsham
Hastings United played three of the top four sides in the Isthmian League in an eight-day spell over the past fortnight. Each match was fiercely contested, with the outcome uncertain until the final whistle. The ‘U’s’ eventual haul of four points from a win, a draw and a defeat will have felt scant reward for their efforts, as they ended last Saturday back in ninth place, six points adrift of a play-off place. But with eight league games left, including two over the Easter weekend against sides near the bottom of the league table, there’s still everything to play for.
On 16 March, before a crowd of over 2,200 at the Pilot Field, second-placed Chatham were a hard nut to crack, and the home side seemed to have to settle for a point in a 0-0 draw when Tommy Fagg was sent off with over 20 minutes still to go following a multi-player confrontation. The sending-off was “harsh” according to manager Chris Agutter, though Fagg has shown a tendency to play on a short fuse.
Be that as it may, United went ahead in the 86th minute courtesy of an own goal by a Chatham defender, only to concede an equaliser in the third minute of added time.
HORNCHURCH DEFEATED
Three days later, top-of-the -table visitors Hornchurch arrived with a record of just one defeat in 32 league matches. Leading their attack was Femi Akinwande, who started the season banging in the goals for Hastings but transferred to the Essex side in October.
On the night he was kept quiet by the home pairing of Sam Cruttwell and Sam Gale, playing immaculately together in central defence. At the other end, the ‘U’s’ prolific scorer Davide Rodari was also drawing blanks. But in the 89th minute he found space to cross to the far post for Fagg to score the winner to spark jubilation amongst both players and supporters.
Last Saturday, Hastings travelled to Horsham, who had beaten them 2-0 in the reverse fixture in early February. The West Sussex side dominated the first half. They went ahead from a spot-kick in the 12th minute, conceded by Jordy Mongoy, a recent returnee to the United ranks following a spell as a 19-year-old at the Pilot Field in 2018/19. His foul on the edge of the penalty area was adjudged to have been committed just inside it. The lead was then doubled with a goal from another former Hastings striker, Daniel Ajakaiye.
The ‘U’s came out for the second half with much greater verve and attacking intent. Cruttwell pulled a goal back, having nutmegged a defender, and drilled his low shot past the Horsham goalkeeper. After that, with Jack Dixon, Freddie Legg and Will Harley successively brought on as substitutes, it was end-to-end stuff. Further scoring opportunities were created at either end, with a final opening made for Rodari by Dixon in added time. It was the sort of chance he has been netting all season, but this one he put narrowly wide, and Horsham survived to win 2-1 and cement their place in the top four.
Today (Good Friday) Hastings play away against Haringey Borough, then entertain Folkestone Invicta on Easter Monday in a game which will surely have the Pilot Field buzzing with a large home crowd. There’s also a Sussex Senior Cup final in the offing. It’s popularly described as the business end of the season.
Isthmian League – Premier Division
| P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | Pts | ||
| 1 | Hornchurch | 34 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 84 | 26 | +58 | 82 |
| 2 | Chatham Town | 36 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 75 | 51 | +24 | 71 |
| 3 | Enfield Town | 35 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 62 | 48 | +14 | 61 |
| 4 | Horsham | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 49 | 39 | +10 | 61 |
| 5 | Wingate & Finchley | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 62 | 54 | +8 | 59 |
| 6 | Carshalton Athletic | 36 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 64 | 49 | +15 | 55 |
| 7 | Dulwich Hamlet | 35 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 67 | 53 | +14 | 55 |
| 8 | Billericay Town | 36 | 17 | 4 | 15 | 59 | 46 | +13 | 55 |
| 9 | Hastings United | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 58 | 46 | +12 | 53 |
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