Cray Wanderers v Hastings United - Saturday 1st January 2011

Pre Match Report

I’m Roger Sinden here at Hayes Lane Bromley, where Hastings United visit Cray Wanderers.

Hastings United enter a New Year with both a new manager in Jason Hopkinson and also half a new team. Their last match was back on December 11 when Hastings lost by 3-2 to a Horsham side that finished with only 8 men. United bombarded the visitors in the quest for an equaliser but were thwarted by bad luck and excellent goalkeeping, and this proved to be the final match for former Manager Tony Dolby who resigned after the match. This was closely followed by the departure of a number of Kent based players, all of whom had a close playing allegiance with Dolby.

The arrival of Jason Hopkinson from Lewes was followed by a frenzy of activity as he sought to strengthen a weakened squad helped no doubt by the wintry weather. Postponements have given Jason extra time to assemble a squad which includes former Lewes contacts and also loan signings from Leyton Orient, where Hopkinson has been able to capitalise on some  helpful links.

To visit Cray Wanderers at any time of the season is a big challenge , but particularly so at a time of upheaval. Cray have moved into third place in the table, fitting for a club celebrating its 150th season. Hopefully United’s new recruits can quickly gel with the remaining United players and mount a push to move away from the drop zone.

Roger Sinden for Hospital Radio Hastings at  Hayes lane, Bromley

Match Report

Cray Wanderers  ( 2 ) Hastings United ( 0 )

Jason Hopkinson’s hastily assembled side, drawing upon youthful loan players to augment the remaining squad, got off to the worst possible start against high flying Cray Wanderers. Without the suspended goalkeeper Scott Chalmers Stevens , Hastings selected Paul Nessling and he had an unsettled opening period in the Hastings goal. He was poorly positioned and mishandled a cross and the ball cannoned around the penalty area like pin ball before Lee Bremner forced home on 6 minutes.

The game was effectively over on 9 minutes when Laurent Hamici fired home from 20 yards, the ball dipping in by the post. Hastings had some sporadic sorties upfield but were understandably lacking cohesion as they had not played together before. The  poor quality of passing   was however disappointing. Hopes were raised on 40 minutes when Cray’s goal scorer Leigh Bremner was shown a straight red card, reducing the home side to 10 men.

The second half saw United enjoy plenty of possession against a home side content to defend in depth and wait for Hastings to lose possession through poor distribution. It was not until the last 10 minutes, when defender Sean Ray joined the attack, that a goal seemed possible. Ray’s glancing header struck the inside of the post and rebounded to safety and then the same player went close from a Russell Eldridge free kick. It would be harsh to judge this new look side after one match but one wonders where the next goal will come from.

Roger Sinden at  Hayes Lane Bromley for Hospital Radio Hastings where it finished
Cray Wanderers ( 2 ) Hastings United ( 0 )