FOOTBALL: United Defence Regroups at Cray
12 October:
Dulwich Hamlet 3, Hastings Utd 0
15 October:
Hastings Utd 2, Cheshunt 3
19 October:
Cray Wanderers 0, Hastings Utd 0
Hastings United secured only their first point in three Isthmian League games when they drew 0-0 with Cray Wanderers last Saturday. However, it represented their first clean sheet in the league for over two months, and was clearly a more resilient defensive performance than when they succumbed 3-0 to the same opponents in an FA Cup-tie on 28 September.
At Dulwich on 12 October, the ‘U’s had matched their hosts for much of the game but conceded two goals in quick succession, the second a defensive mix-up, to trail 2-0 at halftime. Both sides hit the woodwork in the second half before a further late goal for the London side put the result beyond doubt.
Three days later, United hosted Cheshunt, who had previously won only one league game all season. For 20 minutes the ‘U’s were largely dominant, Freddie Legg thumped an opening goal, and confidence seemed high. Then goalkeeper Louis Rogers came flying out of his goal to make a rash challenge on a Cheshunt forward, hacked him down just outside the penalty area, and received a straight red card. Without a substitute keeper on the bench, Hastings put Tommy Fagg in goal. It proved an unfortunate choice.
Fagg’s first touch was to pick the ball out of the net after opposing midfielder Vas Vasiliou chipped the immediate free kick over the defensive wall. Worse followed as the deputy keeper spilled a straightforward aerial ball soon after and allowed Vasiliou to score a second from a tight angle. Then he was beaten a third time before halftime as a through ball exposed the ‘U’s’ disintegrating defence. At 3-1 down, and the rest of the game to play with ten men against eleven, the game already looked beyond them.
To their credit, they fought valiantly in the second half, Billy Vigar taking over the keeper’s role in an assured display and Fin Chapman scoring his team’s second with a low finish ten minutes from time, but an equaliser wasn’t forthcoming.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply