Hastings United v Hosham United - Saturday 31st January 2009

Pre Match Report

I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Horsham

Hastings will consider themselves to be unlucky for not having become the first side to dent Dover’s one hundred percent home record last Saturday. Dover have emerged victorious from all of their thirteen home matches but were made to fight all of the way, before finally beating Hastings by 3 goals to 2. Matt Maclean struck the post late in the game  and Antonio Gonnella shot just wide, in a storming display in which in form  Frankie Sawyer notched another two goals. It was an entertaining match watched by over 1200 spectators.

The down side is that having leaked three goals last week, and two the week before at home to Harlow Town, the defence appears to be returning to its former frail and porous state. The cause, in this respect, will not be helped this afternoon  for the visit of Sussex rivals Horsham as  solid defender Nathan Russell begins the first match of a three match suspension. His absence creates selection headaches for manager John Lambert, and one intriguing option is for striker Scott Ramsay to play in that unfamiliar position. If he does, it will be a huge risk or an inspired decision, We shall see.
Horsham sit just below Hastings in the Ryman Premier, so there can be no room for complacency this afternoon.

The match should see the return to the Pilot Field of two former Hastings favourites, defender Russell Eldridge and midfielder Lee Carey who will both be keen to do well against their former club. Horsham or having difficult times off the pitch and are currently playing home matches at Worthing in their quest for a permanent venue in Horsham to replace Queen Street.

Match Report

Hastings United (0 )  Horsham ( 2 )

Hastings United supporters shivered their way through one of the worst home performances of the season, with Horsham controlling the game from the outset. In Claude Seanla and Reggie Sharpe, they had two dangerous front men and in contrast Hastings had little to offer in response in terms of possession and creativity.

In the absence of suspended Nathan Russell, Hastings drafted in Scott Ramsay into the back four and manager John Lambert used all three substitutes in an endeavour to kick start his misfiring side.

Horsham penned Hastings in their own half in the early opening exchanges and were rewarded with an early goal. Lee Carney spotted goalkeeper Greg Nessling off his line on 17 minutes and opportunistically lobbed him from 25 yards with Nessling getting a hand to the ball but being unable to prevent it from hitting the net. Hastings response was to force a corner and Josh Jirbandey’s header cleared the bar. Alex Haddow almost added a second when his header struck the bar with the Hastings defence in disarray.

The second half drifted away with Hastings rarely looking as if they would trouble the visitors. Goal efforts were few and far between and Horsham could easily have added to their solitary goal lead with a composed performance on the ball. Their second goal did not come until stoppage time through Claude Seanla who took advantage of Regie Savage’s earlier shot being blocked by the advancing Nessling. The ball rebounded to Savage, who following up scored from the edge of the area. By then many of the Hastings supporters had drifted home, to escape an afternoon of disappointment.

Roger Sinden at the Pilot Field for SATURDAY SPORT  where it finished
Hastings United ( 0 )  Horsham ( 2 )