Cambridge City v Hastings United - Saturday 22nd November 2008

Pre Match Report

“I’m Roger Sinden here at Milton Road, Cambridge where today Hastings United visit Cambridge City.

Just three weeks ago Hastings seemed to be on the crest of a wave, having eliminated Harrow Borough in a tense and hard fought FA Trophy encounter, and booked their ticket for a final qualifying round tie at Cambridge City. They were firing on all cylinders and had notched up five straight wins.

Since then form has wobbled and United have lost the last three league encounters and the defence has looked far from assured.  Five goals were conceded at Canvey Island and four more at home to Hornchurch last week. Problems have been compounded by the news that Andy Ballard, a solid defender with a lethal long throw which has set up several goals for United, has relocated to the Oxford area. He has therefore played his last game for the club.

Hastings have however secured the services of trainee Josh Jirbandey from Peterborough United on work experience and he goes straight into the starting lineup. With prize money of £4000 available for the winners of today’s game, it all seems to have come about at the wrong time.

Cambridge City compete in the Premier Division of the Southern League, sponsored by British Gas, and it is some five or so years since the two clubs last met. Cambridge are having a sound season. Leading the way as City’s top scorer is Ramon Calliste, who began his career at Manchester United, and care will need to be taken to ensure that he denied goal scoring opportunities this afternoon, with perhaps hopes of a replay next Tuesday.

Match Report

Cambridge City ( 1 ) Hastings United (0 )

Hastings bowed out of the FA Trophy in the final qualifying round and in so doing saw £4000 evaporate in the chilly Cambridge air. They were reinforced by Josh Jirbandey from Peterborough United rather than the local take away, and he caught the eye with a solid display in the Hastings defence.

City danger man and leading scorer Ramon Calliste wriggled his way into the penalty area on 13 minutes but his low drive was parried by the diving Nessling and hacked to safety. With the advantage of the slope the hosts edged the goalless first half and Ashley Fuller went close when he low cross from the bye line eluded the slightest touch from a City colleague. At the other end Frankie Sawyer found space for Hastings on the right flank and with Zac Barrett advancing off his line, saw a  his goal bound chip headed clear.

With the advantage of the slope in the second half, Hastings could have secured their first competitive drawn match of the season but were inexplicably anonymous and rarely crossed the half way line. The perfect script would hopefully involve a goalless draw and replay at the Pilot Field but it was not to be.  A free kick on 66 minutes saw Calliste strike a post but the ball was not safely cleared by the Hastings defence and the danger remained. A low return from the right saw Neil Midgley hit the roof of the net for the game’s only goal.

Hastings should have chased the game with passion and sustained pressure but rarely had possession after the goal. Hastings had hoped to undo the hosts through pace on the flanks through Attwood and Gonella, but when it was clear that this was not to be successful had no Plan B. It brought a fruitless end to an afternoon full of endeavour but lacking a creative spark.

Roger Sinden at Milton Road, Cambridge for Saturday Sport
where it finished
Cambridge City ( 1 ) Hastings United ( 0 )