United Sidelined After Stunning Victory
Bishops Stortford 2, Hastings United 3
Hastings United v Billericay Town – match postponed
Hastings rose to sixth in the Isthmian Premier League table after victory at Bishops Stortford on 10 March – then lost three places when sidelined a week later. Heavy overnight rain caused last Saturday’s home fixture with Billericay Town to be postponed. With seven games to go, all to be played by 22 April, the pack chasing for a play-off position remains as bunched as ever. Just five points separate fifth from tenth.
The win at Bishops Stortford was a dramatic one. The home team, who went into the game as league leaders, scored an opening goal within six minutes after a woeful error in the ‘U’s defence, Ryan Worrall leaving his back pass short and goalkeeper Louis Rogers hopelessly exposed. Rogers then made a couple of athletic saves to keep the score down to 1-0, and Hastings eventually carved some chances of their own, but it was no great surprise when Stortford doubled their lead on the hour mark after a swift move down the right.
In the 73rd minute, Freddie Legg, brought on as a substitute, pulled a goal back for the ‘U’s in a goalmouth scramble following a corner. But it wasn’t until the last minute of normal time that Worrall, atoning for his earlier error, found Sam Adams, a late substitute for Jack Dixon, in space in the home penalty area to equalise 2-2.
In a frantic finish, Ben Pope received the ball out on the left of the Stortford penalty area and curled it back over the heads of several defenders to find the far corner. The visitors – team, staff and travelling supporters – celebrated rapturously.
Tomorrow the ‘U’s undertake another tough away assignment – a 150-mile round trip to Canvey Island, who are currently fourth in the table. If they could repeat their last triumph, then the play-offs would certainly start to beckon. But they will have to play this and the following game, at home to Herne Bay on 1 April, without last week’s hero Pope, who is suspended.
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