Pre - Match Reports

Newport IoW v Hastings United

4th March 2006

Leatherhead v Hastings United

25th February 2006

Hastings United v Walton Casuals

18th February 2006

Dulwich Hamlet v Hastings United

11th February 2006

Hastings United v Bashley

4th February 2006

Hastings United v Banstead Athletic

28th January 2006

Cray Wanderers v Hastings United

21st January 2006

Horsham v Hastings United

3rd January 2006

Hastings United v Tonbridge Angels

10th December 2005

“I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Kingstonian

Visitors Kingstonian have all to play for this afternoon when they call in at the Pilot Field for the last game of the season. They currently lie in sixth position, the final play off place, but have two teams closing in, just one point behind. Clearly maximum points this afternoon is the only was in which K’s can make this certain, so an open game is anticipated.

United have rather gone off the boil as of late with three successive draws followed by a single goal defeat at Tonbridge, after conceding an early penalty. They do however welcome back Sean Ray after a three match suspension and hopefully Marc Whiteman will be available for selection now that relegation of Conference South Maidenhead has been confirmed.

It’s Player of the Year time again and there must be a number of contenders. Jimmy Elford has been a model of consistency both in midfield or at left back and Sam Adams has proved a reliable goalscorer in his first season at the club, and is leading marksman. Sean Ray is a massive influence but has missed a number of games due to suspension. All will be revealed just before kick off as the season comes to an end.

“I’m Roger Sinden here at Longmead Tonbridge where today Hastings United visit Tonbridge Angels”

Hastings make their final journey of the campaign knowing that having only secured three draws from their last three matches has left their play off dreams in tatters. Tonbridge Angels, their hosts this afternoon, can look forward to the play offs with anticipation having made the running for most of the season. Local rivals Tonbridge have always been considered the old enemy since both their professional existence in 1948 with an opening season fixture against one another. There will therefore be plenty of pride at stake this afternoon.

Hastings are still without the suspended Sean Ray and uncertainty still exists about Marc Whiteman’s availability and if he will be recalled this afternoon by Conference South side Maidenhead. If he is available he is likely to be partnered by Sam Adams and even John Bradley, as Ade Olorunda remains unavailable through injury. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs, Nigel Kane’s side have shown pleasing consistency in this last part of the season with only one defeat in 12 matches. They would be in a much stronger position were in not for such a bleak run earlier in the year.

Hastings United v Fleet Town - 16th April 2006

“I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Fleet Town”

Hastings go into the Easter programme knowing that only maximum points from their two matches followed by other results going their way, will mean that a play off place will be secured. Fleet Town present the first hurdle this afternoon, followed by a short trip to Ashford on Easter Monday.

Manager Nigel Kane has a depleted squad to choose from for today’s critical match in that striker Marc Whiteman has been called back to his Conference South side Maidenhead and Sean Ray begins the first of a three match suspension. In response it is likely that Kane will opt for Ade Olorunda and Sam Adams up front and fit again Rhys Whyborne is the natural replacement for Sean Ray at the back. With Nima Cham struggling with a ham string injury there is an indication that Duncan Mc Arthur will make a start in midfield.

Last Saturday saw a disappointing display in a goal less draw away to Lymington and New Milton. In the difficult conditions of a dry pitch and swirling wind, it was certainly the case of two points dropped against a home side wanting to avoid relegation.

It has placed additional pressure on an already difficult task as Hastings look both to maximum points for themselves and slip ups from others along the way.

“I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Croydon Athletic”

Hastings United enter the final four weeks of the season, still not clear if their two goal reverse at Kingstonian on Monday night has dealt a terminal blow to their play off aspirations. All was going well until just before half time when captain Sean Ray’s dismissal and a penalty award was a double hammer blow. After that there was only one likely outcome. Just two days earlier United had emerged with all three points from Burgess Hill after an industrious second half performance and victory by the odd goal in three.

It is must win time this afternoon against visitors Croydon Athletic who are also handily placed in a potential play off position. They have one more point than United and have played one game fewer, hence the need for maximum points.

New signing, striker Marc Whiteman makes a start alongside Ade Olorunda in a two man strike force, with leading goalscorer Sam Adams serving out his last match of a three game suspension.Perhaps surprisingly there is no start for Duncan McArthur who is now available again. Sean Ray will anticipate a coming three match ban which will rule him out of key fixtures. 

Whatever the outcome this afternoon, the Pilot Field will be no place for the faint hearted.

Burgess Hill v Hastings United - 25th March 2006
"I’m Roger Sinden here at Leylands Park where today Hastings United visit Burgess Hill"

With a run of six league games without defeat, including five wins and a draw, United face an important eight days which starts with a visit to Leylands Park , home of Burgess Hill. Manager Nigel Kane is forced to make changes to his squad, as leading scorer Sam Adams begins a three match ban, to join Duncan McArthur who is also ineligible to play. Those critical eight days include an away match on Monday night against play off rivals Kingstonian and a home match against Croydon Athletic.

Adams absence may be tempered slightly by the arrival of new signings Colin Johnston and John Bradley and Kane faces difficult choices as to who will start. Attempts to bring former favourite Danny Simmonds back to the club were thwarted by Ashford and it looks as though Shaun Loft has also left the club. Striking options are also reduced by the fact that Ade Olorunda has fitness problems and may not last the full ninety minutes .

Hosts Burgess Hill have suffered a dip in form and have lost their last three matches without scoring a goal but the result today, in view of the absences from the United squad, is by no means guaranteed. What is clear is that the next eight days will determine whether Hastings are to be playing Ryman first Division football next year, of if the Premier Division beckons.

A stirring, if not unexpected run of results of four wins and a draw has reignited Hastings play off chances in the vital end of season run in. The visit of Molesey, over whom United were the winners in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season, is a must win game and manager Nigel Kane looks to the same squad that has served him so well on recent weeks. Indeed, he has the luxury of an unchanged starting line up for the third consecutive match.

There is however the concern that recent disciplinary problems will eventually catch up with the club, both on the pitch and off. A recent appearance before the FA made it very clear that the club needs to clean up its act if it is to avoid a financial penalty and on the pitch an inescapable outcome of red and yellow cards is the absence of key players as a result of suspensions.

Midfielder Duncan McArthur is one of those key players absent through suspension as he starts a three match ban. There are also doubts as to whether he will remain at the club as Eastbourne Borough have declared an interest. Leading scorer Sam Adams will also expect to be absent shortly, following his dismissal at home to Tooting and Mitcham last weekend, when the home side were the winners by the odd goal in five.

Look out for in form players Russell Eldridge with five goals in six games and Ade Olorunda with four goals in four games.

Recent wins have seen plenty of goals in recent matches. Let’s hope that the Pilot Field faithful will be similarly rewarded this afternoon.

Good afternoon and welcome to St George's Park in Newport on the Isle of Wight, Hastings United having crossed the Solent today in search of three more Ryman League Division One points""Two wins in the last seven days have rekindled United's hopes of featuring in the end of season promotion play-offs and they will start as overwhelming favourites this afternoon against a Newport side lying second from bottom in the table, without a win in six games and that was hammered 5-0 at Burgess Hill on Wednesday."

"United do have several selection problems however, with leading scorer Sam Adams and midfield dynamo Tim Olorunda both missing through suspension, Danny Spice unable to make the trip and Shaun Loft out with an ankle injury. Striker Ade Olorunda makes a welcome return to the starting line-up after over a month on the sidelines, while Bernard Asante and Jimmy Elford also come in for a match, which United can ill afford to lose."

"I’m Roger Sinden here at Fetcham Grove where today Hastings United visit Leatherhead"

Having gone five games without a win, Hastings supporters hope that the side can halt their alarming slide down the table when they visit Leatherhead this afternoon. Leatherhead boast that they are "A club run by its supporters for the benefit of the community" and the approach appears to be working as they are on the fringe o the play off places. They are in eighth position with fifty points. There has of course been talk of a Hastings takeover this week with an approach which would mirror that taken in Leatherhead.

Last week saw United involved in a seven goal thriller in the mud and driving rain. Most certainly not a game for the faint hearted there were errors galore in the difficult conditions, two penalties and both sides had a player dismissed. It was in defence that Hastings looked the frailest but fortunately Sean Ray appears to have resolved his differences with the club and has concluded his suspension. Ben White, also suspended last week also comes into the reckoning this afternoon.

Expect the going to be heavy this afternoon at Fetcham Grove where there were doubts about the game proceeding up until a pitch inspection today. It was in similar conditions last week that so many goals resulted so we could be in for a repeat performance.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Walton Casuals

Once again there is plenty to report from the Pilot Field in advance of this afternoon’s match against visitors Walton Casuals. United are looking to bounce back after a string of dismal performances, the most recent being a two goal defeat at Dulwich Hamlet.

Firstly joint manager Pat Brown has stepped down for personal reasons leaving Nigel Kane in sole charge , and there are suggestions which have yet to be confirmed, that the club needs to make financial savings. This has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the availability of Wes Lopez and Duncan McArthur. Club captain Sean Ray continues his suspension for a further week as does Ben White, but speculation continues as to whether the inspirational Sean Ray has quit the club.It makes today’s squad look pretty thin on quality and depth.

It is these uncertainties off the field that make today’s match so challenging. Walton Casuals lost by the odd goal in five when Hastings were the visitors in October, in what was an entertaining match. The dwindling faithful at the Pilot Field are overdue entertainment after several disappointing home performances, so let’s hope there is something to shout about this afternoon.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at Champion Hill Stadium where today Hastings United visit Dulwich Hamlet"

A troubled week saw Hastings licking their wounds after another lacklustre performance last Saturday when they lost 2-0 to Bashley.

Tuesday saw the club summonsed to the FA as a result of their poor disciplinary record with three players dismissed in recent matches. Clearly there will need to be a marked improvement in this respect if the club are to avoid a hefty fine. Skipper Sean Ray, who is suspended for today’s game, has threatened never to play for the club again over an unpaid fine imposed through the club’s disciplinary code of conduct.

More happily on the pitch, United earned a good point through a goalless draw at the Metropolitan Police in a side including new signings Matt Piper and Daniel Williams who have joined from neighbours Eastbourne Borough. Rebuilding on the pitch continues but as a result continuity is lost and performances adversely affected.

Expect United to adopt a 4-5-1 formation at Dulwich this afternoon against a side that is just sitting below Hastings in a mid table position. The promotion places look settled already but there is still hope that a run of results could see Hastings sneak into a play off position at the end of the season.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Bashley"

If a week is a long time in politics it’s an eternity in football. Last week Hastings were quietly confident, having begun to put an undefeated run together, and contemplating victory over mid table Banstead. After a horror performance, conceding five goals and seeing a player sent off for the second successive week, there is a sense of disarray at the prospect of Bashley’s visit to the Pilot Field this afternoon.

Suspensions and injuries abound and definitely out are Danny Spice, suspended for three games and Shaun Loft for one game. With injuries to Ade Olorunda, joint managers Pat Brown and Nigel Kane have needed to dip into local football to add to their squad in order to field a side. More encouragingly, Bernard Asante returns after nine weeks out of the squad through injury.

Whilst lightning rarely strikes twice in terms of nightmare Saturdays, and surely this week cannot replicate last, I wouldn’t be a weather forecaster at the Pilot Field this afternoon.

Lets hope that the team clicks from the kick off and supporters will have something to celebrate at 5pm tonight.

Hastings entertain cash strapped Banstead Athletic this afternoon full of confidence as a result of a string of good results since Boxing Day. That run has included three wins and a draw, and one of the meanest defences in the league has not conceded a goal in that period.

United are at home both this Saturday and next Saturday and they know that they will need to continue to grind results out if a play off place is to become a reality.

Last week United left Cray Wanderers with the points thanks to goals from Sean Ray and Danny Ellis.

Pat Brown and Nigel Kane retain faith with essentially the same starting line up as last Saturday with Ben White partnering Sean Ray in defence as Rhys Whyborne continues to struggle with a hamstring injury. Hastings have been utilising a lone striker in recent weeks which does not always go down well with United supporters who want to see more ambition in terms of quest for goals.

Our visitors are going through a difficult period as their owner has announced that he will no longer finance the club from the end of the season, which inevitably has sent ripples across all aspects of the club. The Ryman League is a far cry from the likes of Chelsea who this weekend announced record losses of £88million without turning a hair.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at Hayes Lane, Bromley where today Hastings United visit Cray Wanderers"

Having beaten Cray by four clear goals earlier in the season, Hastings make the short trip to Bromley in search of a league double. Arguably, Hastings under joint managers Nigel Kane and Pat Brown have steadied the ship following Neville Southall’s departure and have picked up two wins and a draw from the last three games. Perhaps, most pleasing, is the fact that the defence has not conceded a goal during this period and is looking more organised and less vulnerable.

Last Saturday, at home to Corinthian Casuals. Hastings won by three goals to nil, with Duncan Mc Arthur notching a brace and Sean Adams adding a third. The game was by no means a thriller and Hastings rarely needed to break into perspiration but did lack inspiration.

Cray, today’s opponents ground share with Bromley, and do not enjoy great support. They lie just below United in a mid table position. With a full strength squad to choose from, victory today is eminently achievable, but the Sussex side will need to guard against complacency.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at Queen Street where today Hastings United visit Horsham"

Hastings United face a daunting task as they visit table topping Sussex rivals Horsham, knowing that they will have to be at their very best if they are to return with any reward this afternoon.

Joint managers Pat Brown and Nigel Kane have the unenviable task of rescuing United’s season following the departure of high profile manager Neville Southall, but have set their sights resolutely on a play off position. They did see a comfortable Boxing day win by two goals against lowly Ashford Town.

Undefeated in eight starts Horsham are the pace setters and have already won by the odd goal in five at the Pilot Field in August. A late goal by Andy Walker gave the visitors both points earlier in the season.

Talking of late goals, when Hastings last visited Queen Street they clinched all three points as a result of a Simon Rowland strike in the 6^th minute of injury time. They capitalised on playing down the influential slope in the second half , and this can often prove a telling factor in determining the final result. Neither side can afford to relax until the final whistle.

Happily Hastings welcome back goalkeeper Chris May for the remainder of the season to bring a degree of stability to a position that has been difficult to fill for the last two years.

"I’m Roger Sinden here at the Pilot Field where today Hastings United entertain Tonbridge Angels"

It was the summer of 1948 when Hastings United played their first competitive match away to Tonbridge, and emerged as winners by the odd goal in three. Since then Tonbridge have been one of United’s fiercest local rivals with fixtures between the clubs always arousing strong interest.

Expect this afternoon to be no different as fifth placed Tonbridge, tipped by many to be promotion candidates, call in at the Pilot Field. Tonbridge suffered a mid week dip in form when they were eliminated from the FA Trophy at the hands of East Thurrock United by three goals to nil and will be keen to get back to winning ways. Jay May is unavailable for the visitors through suspension and striker Luke Piscina is the player to watch.

Hastings are still manager less at present, having dispensed with the service of Neville Southall some 10 days ago, and having seen a walkout of the training team as a consequence immediately after. Nigel Kane and Pat Brown have taken temporary charge of the squad since then and saw the side earn a creditable goalless draw at Bashley and a narrow win at home to the Metropolitan Police by the odd goal in three. Duncan MacArthur and Wes Lopez were the goal scorers. Meanwhile the search for a replacement manager continues.

It is fitting to recall that first Tonbridge fixture some 57 years ago as I am sponsoring today’s fixture to promote the book Hastings Reunited which is now available. It charts some of the roller coaster memories of selected matches since 1948.The perfect outcome would be three points and landslide book sales. I can only dream!