FOOTBALL: United Look to the Future
31 January: Faversham Town 5, Hastings Utd 1
7 February: Hastings, Three Bridges Utd match postponed
HUGH SULLIVAN
Heavy defeat at Faversham followed by heavy rain at the Pilot Field, which washed out last Saturday’s scheduled match against Three Bridges, made the last fortnight one to forget for followers of Hastings United. However, rather than getting stuck immobile in the muddy terrain or casting anxious looks once more at the Isthmian league table, the club has been addressing its future by offering new contracts to key players.
Midfielder Jordan Mase and defender Sam Pidgeon are reported to have signed contracts to stay with the club until at least the end of the 2026/27 season.
Both were brought in by manager David Altendorff when he arrived at the club in late October. Mase found the net in each of his first three games, and is not only the team’s top scorer but has been its most consistent performer – the fulcrum on which most attacks are mounted, equally busy and determined in the tackle when opponents try to play through midfield. Pidgeon has been physically strong, calm and reliable in defence, both in the air and on the ground, and whether as centre back or full back. He has also weighed in with a couple of goals.
The team’s current league position – two places and six points above the drop – remains concerning, and form – no wins in the last four games – needs a boost. But the commitment which these outstanding players have shown to stay with the club should encourage others, not least Altendorff himself, to stick around. The aim this season must be to work back to a respectable mid-table place, which is the best they can now hope for. Next season will, if the club’s board have their way, be different.
At Faversham on 31 January, the ‘U’s scored first, Fin Chapman breaking down the right and Lukas Franzen-Jones running across the front of a defender to finish his cross. But the home side equalised midway through the half, took a 2-1 lead on the stroke of halftime, and within ten minutes of the second half scored two more. While Hastings were creating chances but missing them (including a penalty), Faversham enjoyed an afternoon of fabulous strikes – two goals smashed into the top corner of Harry Howes’ net, and a bicycle kick from 15 yards, before they converted a late penalty to make the final score a 5-1 rout.
The pattern of second half struggle has been repeated time and again over the season. In 37 league and cup games, United have won just once after conceding the first goal. (That was against Sheppey United in December, and by halftime in that match they had already turned the score round to be 2-1 ahead). It’s also the fact that all nine of the team’s league victories have been achieved after coming in ahead at halftime.
Is the set-up of the team unsuited to breaking down opposing defences when they are protecting a lead? Do heads drop when goals are conceded? Is fitness a problem? Do the substitutes available on the bench lack the quality of those they replace? These are the questions that supporters ask and Altendorff has to find answers for – when Hastings next play.
It was no surprise that last Saturday’s game against league leaders Three Bridges was called off. After weeks of rain, the Pilot Field pitch is well and truly saturated, and only three out of 11 fixtures survived across the Isthmian South-East Division (one of those was in Jersey). Tomorrow’s fixture (Saturday), another home match against Surrey team Merstham, must also be in doubt. There will probably be a pitch inspection in the morning, with the outcome shown on the club’s Facebook page.
ISTHMIAN LEAGUE SOUTH EAST DIVISION
(bottom six as at 8 February 2026)
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Hastings United | 29 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 41 | 50 | -9 | 32 |
| Erith Town | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 37 | 51 | -14 | 28 |
| Hassocks | 29 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 33 | 52 | -19 | 26 |
| VCD Athletic | 30 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 38 | 69 | -31 | 24 |
| Beckenham Town | 26 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 34 | 59 | -25 | 19 |
| East Grinstead Town | 27 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 20 | 90 | -70 | 5 |
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