Hastings United v Staines Town - Saturday 4th April 2009

Pre Match Report

“I’m Roger Sinden here at The Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster  where Hastings United visit AFC Hornchurch ”

For the second successive week relegation threatened Hastings United have a challenging fixture against a playoff contender.
 Last week’s visit of second placed Staines Town saw the away side coasting to victory after an early goal, but found that they were surprisingly pegged back by a late penalty from Sam Adams. This valuable point saw United climb temporarily out of the relegation zone, only to see them slip back mid week. United were without a game but other sides were catching up on fixtures and the results on the night did not all go in Hastings favour.

Todays opponents Hornchurch are handily placed in sixth position in the league with clubs finishing between second and fifth eligible for the play off matches. The Urchins are urging supporters to get behind them in their push for eventual promotion to the blue Square South.

Hastings manager Tony Dolby is unlikely to change the squad for today’s match. New signing Michael Phillips went straight into the line up last week. He is a neat and thoughtful passer of the ball and his introduction against Staines meant that United were less dependent upon a long ball strategy and were willing to play through the middle instead. Frankie Sawyer, back from injury, is named as substitute

What  is probable is that the likely fates of both Hastings and Hornchurch could be a little clearer by 5 this afternoon.

Roger Sinden for Saturday Sport at The stadium, Bridge Avenue, Hornchurch

Match Report

AFC Hornchurch(  1  ) Hastings United (  2 )

Hastings united carved out three precious points against play off contenders  AFC Hornchurch with a performance that belied their lowly league position. With the bottom of the table as congested as the nearby Dartford Crossing, there should at least be some light tonight from the relegation zone.

The Urchins will regret their wasteful approach to goal chances in a lively opening spell. Elliot Styles wriggled along the bye line before pulling back to Dean Green who contrived to stab wide of an open goal. Minutes later it was the turn of Mark Janney to blaze over the bar when set up, again from the left flank.

 Newly signed Michael Phillips has brought a new dimension to the Hastings midfield and his control and passing ensured greater possession compared with the earlier long ball games. It was a Phillips corner on the right on 31 minutes which was only partly cleared and the unmarked Matt McLean looped a header in by the far post to give United an interval lead. Hastings continued to ride their luck and looked to have frustrated their hosts who were despairing of scoring. In the end Scott Ramsay was adjudged to have handled and Mark Janney’s penalty kick sent Nessling the wrong was and set up a storming finish.

Good passing on the right opened the home defence and allowed Antonio Gonnella to pick out Sam Adams on 83 minutes. His close range angled effort went in via the underside of the bar. Hastings defended desperately in the closing stages and after a pin table incident in a crows of players in front of goals, Nessling was relieved to clutch the ball on the line in a cloud of dust.

 Damned United? Not on this performance.

Roger Sinden at The Stadium, Bridge Avenue, Upminster for Saturday Sport  where it finished
AFC Hornchurch (  1  ) Hastings United (  2  )