FOOTBALL: United Take Rain Checks
15 February: Hastings Utd 0, Dulwich Hamlet 0
Hastings United were due to play three successive home games over the past two and a half weeks, with the prospect of improving their dire recent form. In the event, under remorseless deluges of rain, their Pilot Field pitch was only fit (and barely at that) for one of them, a goalless draw with Dulwich; the other two fixtures, against Canvey Island and Wingate & Finchley respectively, were postponed until next month.
These postponements leave Hastings still winless in 2025. The point earned against Dulwich came after a run of seven defeats, and manager Danny Searle will have taken comfort from the fact that it was the first home league game since the opening day of the season last August in which the ‘U’s managed to keep a clean sheet. However, it’s arguable that only some poor finishing by the visitors, plus a couple of excellent saves by keeper Louis Rogers, enabled them to achieve this.
The nearest Hastings came to scoring was a deft header from Rodari from a corner that rebounded from the bar, and the follow-up shot from Kian Moyes, blocked on the goal-line. A late free kick from Ben Wells was also well saved by the Dulwich keeper.
Next up is an away fixture tomorrow (Saturday) at Cray Valley PM, currently fourth in the league table, then another match on the road against Chatham Town next Tuesday, before entertaining Hendon at the Pilot Field (pitch willing) on 8 March. Hastings lost 9-0 to the North London team in an abject display in November, but the latter have since then been in free fall, and are now themselves mired in the relegation zone. A beautiful game is unlikely.
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