FOOTBALL: United Miss Out
Hastings United 2,
Billericay Town 2
Bowers & Pitsea 0,
Hastings United 2
Hastings United 1,
Worthing 1 (lost 4-5 on pens)
Hastings United team and supporters will rightly rate the 2022-23 season an overall success. Finishing in the top half of the Isthmian League only four points off qualification for the play-offs is a creditable outcome – turning into victories just two of the string of home draws conceded during the closing weeks of the campaign would have been enough to get them there.
It’s also reasonable to speculate that, but for serious mid-season injuries which sidelined key midfielders Tom Chalmers and Sam Hasler, the team had enough in them to challenge for promotion. Only league winners Bishops Stortford conceded fewer goals than the ‘U’s, with goalkeeper Louis Rogers and the regular back four of Craig Stone, Alex Brefo, Jack Elliott and Kane Penn all performing consistently through the season. The challenge next year will be to find replacements for loanee strikers Joe Gbode and David Smith, who will presumably return to their parent clubs, and more youthful support in midfield for the talismanic Sam Adams and for Jack Dixon, who’s also nearing the veteran stage.
United’s league challenge was finally ended on 18 April when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Billericay Town, relying on a late equaliser from Smith. That left them unable to overtake Cray Wanderers or Lewes on the last day despite a win over Bowers & Pitsea.
More disappointment followed when they were held the following Wednesday to a 1-1 draw by Worthing in a semi-final of the Sussex Senior Cup, and missed out on a final appearance at Brighton’s Amex stadium after losing the penalty shoot-out.
So it’s holiday time now for the players and staff at the Pilot Field, though manager Gary Elphick will soon have to sit down with United’s board to work out a strategy – and budget – for 2023-24.
Isthmian Premier League – Final League Table 2022-23
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | B. Stortford | 42 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 75 | 33 | +42 | 88 |
| 2 | Hornchurch | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 98 | 49 | +49 | 84 |
| 3 | Canvey Island | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 80 | 44 | +36 | 81 |
| 4 | Aveley | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 64 | 42 | +22 | 78 |
| 5 | Cray Wanderers | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 78 | 48 | +30 | 74 |
| 6 | Lewes | 42 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 82 | 54 | +28 | 74 |
| 7 | Horsham | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 84 | 57 | +27 | 72 |
| 8 | Hastings Utd | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 63 | 42 | +21 | 71 |
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