Hastings United V AFC Hornchurch - Sat 19th Nov 2011

Pre Match Report

I’m, Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where Hastings United entertain AFC Hornchurch

Improving Hastings United were brought back to earth with a bang last Saturday when visitors Cray Wanderers ran out winners by 2-0 in a flowing and entertaining game for the neutral. Cray Wanderers are one of the top six sides, and having taken the lead with a soft first half goal, rarely looked in danger.

Brighton loan player Jordan Woodley disappointed and was substituted to avoid a sending off, having had such a positive influence on previous games. Joe Barham made a brief appearance as substitute late in the game and looked to have potential and is one to watch for the future.

For the visit of AFC Hornchurch this afternoon, player/ manager Sean Ray is sidelined through injury and continued efforts were made this week to sign temporary cover having regard to the uncertainties relating to the availability of Scott Manning. Scott has been unsettled since the departure of  former Manager Jason Hopkinson and has been talking to other clubs

AFC Hornchurch will pose another stern test as the Essex side lie third in the Premier Division and are undefeated in six matches in all competitons. United will need to be in the best of form if they are to take anything from this afternoon’s match

Match Reports

 Hastings United ( 1   )  AFC Hornchurch  (  3 )

For the second successive week Hastings were well beaten by one of the Division’s top sides but at least a late goal gave United some scant reward for their efforts. Hornchurch were a class act, playing an incisive passing game, but Hastings effectively lost the game in two minutes of madness. On 22 minutes a defensive slip meant that the ball was not cleared and Martin Touhy scored from close range after an interchange of passes. Worse was to follow a minute later after the restart a cross from the left flank by Touhy was headed home from close range by Lewis Smith to extend the lead. Just before the break Kenny Pogue almost latched on to an expert cross field ball but apart from this Hastings rarely threatened.

Hastings needed an early goal after the interval to get back into the game and Jamie Crellin narrowly missed contact with his head from a Woodley cross. At the other end stopper Lloyd Anderson made an excellent save from a volley in what was Hornchurch’s best move of the match.

Eventually it was the visitors who added to the score on 76 minutes when Lee Hunt’s expert lob from 25 yards caught Anderson off his line, to make it 3-0.

Player Manager Sean ray, injured and unavailable today, was sent from the dug out by the referee after showing dissent but at least Zac Attwood’s free kick on 86 minutes from 20 yards angled inside the far post as some compensation for another fruitless afternoon.

Roger Sinden at the Pilot Field for Hospital Radio Hastings where it finished
Hastings United ( 1     ) AFC Hornchurch ( 3  )