| Croydon [H] |
Hastings United v Croydon Athletic - Saturday 19th March 2011Pre Match ReportI’m, Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Croydon Athletic A mixed week of fortunes saw United secure three critical points in a convincing 3-1 win away to fellow relegation contenders Folkestone Invicta. Goals from a Russell Eldridge free kick, an impressive strike from Ollie Rowe and a volley from Ken Pogue were just rewards for a fine display. Mid week United suffered a 1-0 defeat at AFC Hornchurch, when the hosts scored a heartbreaking winner in the 90th minute. It could have been so different as United were awarded a penalty in the second half and the usually reliable Sam Adams saw his spot kick saved. This proved a turning point in a match in which United were severely depleted through injury and non availability. Of necessity Eldridge and Adams needed to play in unfamiliar central mid field roles to cover absences. There is no let up in the relegation tension and today’s visitors Croydon Athletic are in the bottom four positions and within touching distance of United. It has been a turbulent season for Croydon off the pitch with financial difficulties and bad publicity around the linkage with the Pakistan cricket match fixing allegations but it will be events on the pitch this afternoon which are critical. There is no definite team news but Hastings will be hopeful that Harry Beautyman and Tim Olorunda are both restored to mid field, releasing Sam Adams and Russell Eldridge to play in more familiar positions. Roger Sinden for Hospital Radio Hastings at the Pilot Field Match Report Hastings United ( 3 ) Croydon Athletic( 1 ) Hastings made it three wins out of four with a comfortable win against relegation threatened visitors Croydon Athletic, but needed the assistance of two penalty kicks to ease them on their way, The game started brightly with action at either end. George Porter looked dangerous with his close control and speed and Josh Jirbandey needed to clear the danger from Croydon’s first attack. Jirbandey also had a goal bound header well saved by Charlie Mitten in the Croydon goal and then Ben Billings tested Mitten. The opening goal was not long coming when Porter was fouled on the edge of the area. Adams who had missed a penalty at Hornchurch on Tuesday saw his kick blocked by Mitten but Adams forced the rebound home. On 55 minutes the referee awarded a second penalty when he spotted an off the ball incident and Adams more decisively made it 2-0 with a low drive in the corner. Croydon who had offered little were there for the taking and Sean Ray’s header on 69 minutes made it 3-0 with the game effectively over. Hastings might have taken the opportunity to improve their goal difference but with strikers Pogue and Porter being substituted (with Tuesday’s match in mind), it was Croydon Athletic who did the pressing. Stefan Joseph snatched a consolation goal with a low drive on 90minutes. Nevertheless, United continue to perform well and put space between them and the bottom four clubs Roger Sinden at the Pilot Field for Hospital Radio Hastings where it finished |
