FOOTBALL: Top of the League
15 August: Hastings Utd 2; AFC Croydon 1
18 August: Eastbourne Town 0; Hastings Utd 2
22 August: Ashford Utd 1; Hastings Utd 3
HUGH SULLIVAN
Hastings United have made a perfect start to their Isthmian League campaign. Their FA Cup exit a fortnight ago has been followed by three league wins in eight days, two of them away from home, which puts them at the top of the South-East Division for a few days at least.
Manager Ronnie Dolan At the Pilot Field
In the home game against AFC Croydon on 15 August the ‘U’s conceded first but hit back with goals from Max Walsh and Callum Erskine to lead 2-1 at the break. In an open second half, both sides had chances to score more, but Hastings held on, backed by usual levels of raucous support.
Three days later, away at Eastbourne on a pitch which manager Ronnie Dolan described as “not ideal for either team”, it took the ‘U’s 39 minutes to open the scoring through Kesna Clarke, but thereafter they largely controlled the game. Dolan himself hit a fine shot from outside the penalty area to double his side’s lead with 11 minutes left of the 90.
Last Saturday the ‘U’s travelled to traditional local rivals Ashford United. Their Kent hosts were captained by former Pilot Field stalwart Jack Dixon and also had one time Hastings midfielder Sam Hasler in their ranks. Erskine and Ollie Black put the Sussex visitors two up inside the first half hour, while home defender Harrison Hume was first yellow-carded and then sent off, reducing his team to ten men with two thirds of the game still to play.
On the hour mark the ‘U’s were awarded a penalty when Freddie Legg was brought down, duly dispatched by Clarke to make a 3-0 scoreline. Ashford scored a consolation goal late on.
Next up for Hastings are two home games. Tomorrow (Saturday) they entertain Hendon in the First Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy. The North London visitors were relegated from the Isthmian Premier League in April 2025 along with Hastings, but found themselves in the Isthmian South Central Division, rather than the South East. There they finished last season – also like Hastings – only two places above a further relegation. However, they have won all of their first four league and cup matches this month, scoring an aggregate of 18 goals.
On Monday Crowborough Athletic will come to the Pilot Field. The traditional bumper Bank Holiday crowd there will hope that the ‘U’s resume their early league form.
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