Dartford v Hastings United - Saturday 23rd August 2008

Pre Match Report

“I’m Roger Sinden here at Princes Park, Dartford where today Hastings United visit  Dartford ”

It may be premature to talk of relegation battles after only two matches but bottom club Dartford and visitors Hastings United, just one place  above have yet to register any success and are both pointless.

United lost their opener by the odd goal in three to visitors Ashford Town last Saturday and were again second best at Borehamwood by two goals without reply. Both Nathan Russell and Danny Spice sustained injuries against Ashford Town and needed to sit Tuesday’s match out. Preparation plans were further disrupted when the team coach blew a tyre near the Dartford Tunnel and the  kick off was delayed for over half an hour.

United have looked second best in midfield where there appears to be an inability to hold on to possession and where inexperience is badly showing. This is a youthful Hastings side, drawing significantly on last season’s reserve team  and they need to adapt quickly if they are not to become adrift from the other teams in the Ryman premier Division.

Now playing for Dartford are ex Hastings players Tony Kessell and Adam Flanagan and off the pitch, today’s hosts have relocated to a superb new stadium in partnership with the council. The setting is an ideal one for United to begin to gel as an effective side.

Roger Sinden for Saturday Sport at Princes Park Dartford

Match Report

Dartford  ( 0 ) Hastings United ( 2 )

Hastings opened their league account at the third time of asking against fellow early strugglers Dartford.The Kent  side suffered their third successive defeat and are rooted near the foot of the table without a goal or point.

Hastings manager John Lambert rang the changes, omitting goalkeeper Chris May and handing the jersey to Gregg Nessling.  Nessling settled after a nervy start  and contributed to United’s first clean sheet. In truth Dartford had the majority of the first half goal opportunities but ran out of ideas as the game progressed and United rode their luck.

Wide player Antonio Gonella opened the scoring on 13 minutes. Ramsey’s through ball eventually fell to Gonella via Whiteman, and his drive was parried by Kessell but the momentum took the ball into the net.Dartford had ample chances in front of gaol and Brendon Cass was chief culprit. A ball from the right picked him out and with the goal gaping he headed straight at Nessling.

It was more of the same in the second half with Coyle heading wide for the home side and Lee Noble struck the bar. Hastings Sam Adams scored the decisive second on 64 minutes and what a superb strike it was. Picking the ball up jn midfield, 35 yards out, he ran on before driving into the net with Kessell stranded off his line.

Darftford continued to press but the youthful side held its own and gained invaluable confidence with three hard earned points.

Roger Sinden at Princes Park, Dartford Saturday Sport
where it finished Dartford ( 0 ) Hastings United (2  )