Hastings United v Wealdstone - Saturday 21st August 2010

Pre Match Report

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

Hastings United kick  off a new season at the Pilot Field this afternoon against visitors Wealdstone knowing that if last season is anything to go by, their opponents will be one of the teams to beat in the campaign ahead. The visitors have a reshaped squad and hope to go one better than last season’s promotion push. They were well placed, with games in hand, but fell away finally as the backlog of fixtures took its toll.

Hastings for their part have also been busy during the close season and manager Tony Dolby has been capitalising upon his football links to bring in former Tonbridge  Angels players Anthony Storey, Jamie Cade and Fraser Logan as well as goalkeepers Clark Masters and Scott Chalmers Stevens. Part of the challenge is selecting a best fit from the squad and then hopefully letting the team settle and mature.

They will certainly miss the match winning potential of tireless midfielder Harry Pell who has moved to Bristol Rovers after his extended loan at Hastings last year.

Preparation during friendly matches have gone well in this experimental period but it’s the result s from today onwards that matter.

Off the field the ageing floodlighting system has been replaced with four new pylons and the ground looks smart and tidy as a result of the hard work of volunteers.

Hastings will be looking to avoid defeat this afternoon and then maintain some momentum in their mid week fixture away to Maidstone United

Roger Sinden for Hospital Radio Hastings at the Pilot Field

Match Report

Hastings United ( 2 )  Wealdstone( 0 )

Hastings United got off to the best possible start against fancied Wealdstone with a comfortable 2-0 win but it was not until the second half that their superiority was made to tell. They included several new signings in the starting line up and it will clearly be a little while before the side settles. Enjoying plenty of possession Hastings forced six first half corners but goalkeeper Johnathan North handled well under pressure. On 8 minutes a United free kick was only partially cleared, and Olorunda’s follow up shot was blocked. At the other end, on 15 minutes, Greg Ngoyi saw his shot flash wide. Just before the break Ade Olorunda burst free but saw his loe cross evade Sam Adams close to goal.

It took two goals in 5 minutes to get united on their way. A free kick on 60 minutes from the far right flank from Russell Eldridge saw Sean ray rise above a ruck of players and nod in off the far post to open the scoring. The visitors now had to push forward and just five minutes later, debutant Kenny Pogue outpaced the defence from a Michael Phillips pass and rifled a shot in via the underside of the bar to added second.

United continued to look comfortable at the back with new signing John Beales catching the eye and goalkeeper Clark Masters enjoying a quiet afternoon in the sunshine.

Roger Sinden at the Pilot Field for Hospital Radio Hastings where it finished
Hastings United ( 2 ) Wealdstone ( 0 )