7 August: Kingstonian 4; Hastings Utd 1

8 August: Bexhill Utd 0; East Grinstead Town 3

New player-manager of Hastings United Ronnie Dolan tasted defeat in his first competitive match for the club last Friday, as the ‘U’s were knocked out of the FA Cup in a preliminary round. Next day Bexhill United suffered the same fate.

The Hastings team had a long trip to south-west London to face traditional opponents Kingstonian, who play these days at the same tier level in the South Central Division of the Isthmian League. Of last season’s regulars at the Pilot Field, only four – Harry Haines in goal, Joe Clifford, Freddie Legg and Max Walsh – were included in the starting line-up. However, Ollie Black and Tom Chalmers, who led the ‘U’s out as captain, made welcome returns.

Legg scored in the 21st minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty area after intercepting a misplaced pass from the home team.

But they equalised 12 minutes later, went 2-1 ahead shortly afterwards, and scored twice more within 18 minutes of the second half, their 30-year-old striker Eddie Simons bagging a hat-trick. The three-goal lead was rarely challenged over the last half hour as Dolan himself made way for Fin Chapman and the two sides traded other substitutions.

Bexhill’s tie in the same round was a home game against East Grinstead Town, relegated out of the Isthmian League last season and about to re-start at Bexhill’s level in the Southern Combination League (SCL). The West Sussex side proved too good for their hosts on the day, winning comfortably 3-0.

Both the Isthmian League and SCL campaigns start tomorrow (Saturday). Hastings will entertain last season’s runners-up, AFC Croydon, who are again expected to be among the strongest in the division, then have two away fixtures against local rivals, Eastbourne Town (next Tuesday evening, 18 August) and Ashford United (the following Tuesday, 25 August). These are early days, but Dolan will certainly be hoping for better from his team.

It took 38 minutes and an own goal following a corner for the home side to take the lead, but another from Sian Heather followed before half time. In the second half Ashford pulled a goal back, but two more from Bethany Creese secured the victory.

The season has barely reached halfway, however, Hastings having played only 12 league games out of 22, with remaining fixtures scheduled until the back end of May.

Record Crowd Sees Comprehensive Home Defeat

Hastings United 0, Ashford United 3

The biggest crowd for a league game at Pilot Field for many a season, numbered at 1,189, watched last Saturday’s match between the top two teams in the Betvictor Isthmian South-East Division. But most will have come away disappointed as leaders Hastings United, previously unbeaten at home in the league this season, crashed to a 3-0 defeat by second-placed Ashford.  The gap between them is now reduced to a single point, with Whitehawk and Cray Valley PM also closing in behind them.

It was the third successive fixture between the two near neighbours in which the Kent side has come out on top, following last April’s play-off semi-final elimination and a 1-0 loss in December. In each of the three matches the ‘U’s have, for reasons which are no doubt still being pondered by players, coaching staff and supporters alike, failed to produce the form that has been sweeping aside other sides – particularly at home, where 11 out of 12 previous league games had been won.

Last Saturday a heavy pitch clearly hindered United’s passing style. Ashford went two goals up in 20 minutes with clinical strikes, then sat back and absorbed home pressure quite comfortably. If they left gaps, the ‘U’s midfield generally failed to find them, leaving forwards Ben Pope and Daniel Ajakaiye little to feed on. Jake Elliot, Jack Dixon and Ajakaiye all went close, but Ashford’s third goal, scored on the break late on, sealed the outcome comprehensively.

One reverse, however untimely, should not be met with undue despondency. Buoyed by previous results and, no doubt, by mounting cash receipts at the turnstiles, the ‘U’s have made two new signings – defender Jerald Aboagye and forward Warren Mfula – to strengthen their first team squad for the battles ahead. That offsets the sad news that young Italian striker Davide Rodari has suffered another major injury to his ACL that will sideline him for the rest of the season. 

Sam Adams (in white) in action v Faversham
PICTURE: Scott White

Adams penalty hits the Faversham net
PICTURE: Scott White

With Jack Dixon and Temi Eweka suspended after recent sendings off and Hassan Ibrahim and Youssouf Bamba still on the injury list, Hastings ‘ squad had a depleted look. They did, however, welcome back Sam Beale after an injury lay-off of more than two months, Antonio Walker-Barth was picked to start for the first time this year, and they began brightly enough. Daniel Ajakaiye, whose form and fitness remain key to United’s chances of promotion, was tripped in the penalty area, and captain Sam Adams drove home the spot-kick with aplomb. But a mistake by Sam Cruttwell gave Faversham the chance to equalise before the interval, and the second half seemed to be deteriorating into a stalemate when Ajakaiye struck. Cruttwell delivered a penetrating ball down the left flank, and the forward lofted his shot with sublime precision over the advancing goalkeeper – a goal worthy of winning a better game than this. United held on in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

Hastings have ten matches of the regular season left to play – five at home, five away.  All five home matches pit them against other teams in the top half of the table, including runaway leaders Cray Wanderers, third-placed Ashford and (next up) fifth-placed Haywards Heath. By contrast four out of the five away fixtures are against sides in the bottom half.  Supporters can view that run-in two ways. Optimists will believe that United’s imperious home form –  11 wins out of 13 – can be maintained against better opposition while their stuttering away form –  only 4 wins out of 13 –  can be improved against struggling opponents. Pessimists may fear the opposite. What is certain is that, as manager Chris Agutter constantly warns, there are no easy fixtures in this league.

Beyond lie the play-offs. Top spot is clearly Cray’s to seal, still 15 points ahead of the chasing pack. Places between second and fifth qualify for the play-off knockouts, with home advantage being given to the higher-placed qualifier in both semifinals and final. But, as explained in a previous column, the club victorious in the final will still only gain promotion if it is one of the top five contenders, on a points per game average, spread over seven different leagues. Every point gained or lost at this stage of the season thus has significance not only in determining play-off places but also in the ultimate reward for play-off success. A crazy system, many will think, but competitive? Not half.