FOOTBALL
Rocketing up the league
Cray Wanderers 0,
Hastings United 1;
Hastings United 1,
Carshalton AthletIc 0
By Adam Carder
By the end of August the ‘U’s had accumulated five points from their first five games in this season’s Isthmian Premier League – one win, two draws and two defeats. A month on, and three successive 1-0 wins later, it’s 14 points from eight, and they’re pushing for a play-off position.
Back to 21 September: following the home victory over Kingstonian reported last time out, we have an away visit to Cray Wanderers who are currently ground sharing with Bromley FC. They’re in the top six – a tough assignment.
Hastings put on a good defensive display in the first half, not allowing their hosts any shots on target. The ‘U’s do get a couple of chances, and there’s a fine save from the goalkeeper from a Ben Pope header.
The second half opens up a little more, and Cray make forays down the wing thanks to the introduction of Ben Krauhaus. But after an excellent save from Louis Rogers denies a close range shot from Cray, the ‘U’s find space in midfield: Sam Hassler fires at goal from 25 yards out, the ball moves in the air, and the keeper is only able to parry the ball away to the feet of Ben Pope who slots the ball nicely into the bottom corner. United are 1-0 up.
Lloyd Dawes is substituted on for Pope with only four minutes remaining. The card-happy referee sends Dawes off after giving him two successive yellow cards, one for kicking the ball away, and one for a very fine tackle where he wins the ball and would have had a goal scoring opportunity. Many fans, including those of Cray, feel the referee’s decision is wrong.
Be that as it may, he blows his whistle for full time, and it’s a first away win of the season for United.
Next they entertain Carshalton Athletic at the Pilot Field, a team struggling below them in the league.
From the start, traffic is mostly one way, Carshalton struggling to find movement upfront, while their goalkeeper has to make a string of saves. Hastings hit the bar and see the ball cleared off the line twice. A very entertaining half ends 0-0.
Early in the second half the visiting skipper Tom Beere finds himself sent off for a second bookable offence, this time trying to push the ball past Rogers in the Hastings goal with his hand. At the other end, Pope is brought down 35 yards out. Up steps Hassler. We know he can hit these – and this time he does. Instead of opting for a top corner he goes under the wall and under the keeper. United again have a 1-0 lead.
With the extra man the ‘U’s keep pressure on the Carshalton goal and almost snatch a second goal from a Jack Dixon header. The game closes out, and it’s another three points for Hastings, putting them up into sixth place.
Early exit from the FA Cup a month ago means that the ‘U’s were side-lined from action last weekend and have dropped to eighth place in the league, though with games in hand over most teams above them. Tomorrow (Saturday) they travel to Molesey to play Met Police in the FA Trophy before returning to league action on 15 October at home to Bishops Stortford.
Cup victory for Women
Hastings United Women recorded a 2-1 victory over Haringey Borough at the Pilot Field last Sunday in the second qualifying round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. The winner was scored by late substitute Kellie Larkin in added time after 90 minutes; she had been brought on only seconds before with the penalty shoot-out imminent.
The win is a notable scalp for United against a team who play a tier higher than them in the Eastern Region Premier League, and brings closer a potential future tie against a major club.
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