Myall 74 [p]. McArthur 90

Att:- 135

What a bloody awful game. Burnham were what we expected them to be - all brawn and hoof it up the park. Town have played a lot better than they did today - and lost. As someone commented in the second half - our lads got dragged down to Burnham's level - a lot might be said for that. But - there's no doubt about it - we've not been so hot of late - a dire first half at home to Witney, pretty awful at Bashley and involved today in what was just about the worst game of the season so far. And we've still picked up 7 points from 9...........

No Simmo - he was the latest flu victim and Mat and Rudds weren't fully fit. We've got a good squad - but the strength in depth is a concern at times. The conditions at The Gore - comfortably the most basic ground in the league and yet manages to produce the best programme of the lot - cold, overcast and the pitch was very bumpy which soon negated any efforts to play football on the deck.

Best chances of the first half fell to Burnham - Kess pulled off a good blocking save on 16 minutes and was nearly dropped in the mire by a short back pass late in the half. Town created very little in that opening 45 other than a Yatesie effort that flew over the angle of bar and post on 23 minutes. A combination of basically not getting it together, and that pitch, seemed to leave Town very short of ideas.

Whatever George said at half time didn't have any effect. The second 45 started off as dire as what had preceeded. Burnham were given acres of space down the Town left on 48 minutes and Kess's brave effort to stop the resulting cross saw him need attention from Matt Dalton. A farcical break in play followed when the lengthy wait for another ball - following the disappearance into the adjacent housing estate of it's predecessor - saw the game held up while a replacement with enough air in it was flown in from another part of the country - at least that's where we presumed it came from.

Town put together a great move on 60 minutes - quick break upfield involving Chris Honey and Macca saw Macca's effort well blocked by the Burnham keeper - and from the resulting corner, Jonesie headed over when unmarked. That momentary interruption of good play was soon forgotten as the game relapsed with it all seemingly summed up when a shrewd throw in move involving Yatesie and Chris saw the ball go straight out for a goal kick. Kess did a Creedy* on 70 minutes - went rushing out for the ball and was only baled out by Tony Burt's interception.

Mylie came on at that stage of the game - replacing DJ. And within 5 minutes he'd done the business from the penalty spot after Jonesie had been tripped. Right into the roof of the net it went, the jubilant 30 or so Town supporters treated to some light Mylobatics - and a lead we hardly deserved. The defence coped pretty comfortably with what Burnham hoofed at it after that and the icing on the cake came on 90 minutes when Macca was left with the keeper to beat after being set up by Jonesie - and he did so without too much trouble.

SS

Myall 92

Att:- 293

Here we go again - combine two jinxes - our home record and bloody Sittingbourne - and this is what you get. A second half reminiscent of the Histon, St Leonards and Corby games with Town creating enough to have won comfortably - but so frustratingly unable to make that break through. Throw in a highly controversial penalty - a big helping of good fortune for a determined but poor Sittingbourne side - and the reason for all that high blood pressure becomes apparent.

Simmo was back in after his flu - but no Paul Ruddy who I believe was down with the lurgie himself. An indifferent first half with ex Town favourite James Creed having little to do in the Sittingbourne goal. He had a lucky escape on 8 minutes when having shouted "Leave it" - he watched Simmo's corner rebound off a post. What goalmouth action there was tended to be at the Sittingbourne end with the chance of the half falling to Yatesie who really should've scored when Tony Burt's piledriver came back off the upright after a miscued cross had caused havoc in the area. Yatesie took too long and his effort was beaten out - that just before half time. As the players and officials came off after a goal-less half, a linesman who's interpretation of the offside laws - especially relating to players not interfering with play - was advised where to place the flag he'd enthusiatically waved just as Simmo was about to break clear. That was nothing compared to what was to come.......

55 minutes - a Town defender was unable to get out of the way of a Sittingbourne shot hit straight at him - nobody appealed - nothing out of the ordinary - apart from referee Mark John's whistle indicating a penalty which led to a furious reaction from Town defenders while you could hear that pin drop amongst the supporters. As has been commented upon before - we did ok with penalties last season - but are paying for it this time around. Once the furore had died down, the spot kick was converted with what was Sittingbourne's first effort on goal.

Town then started to apply serious pressure - Macca's edge of the box effort was hit straight at Creedie, Steve Yates saw a cross diverted into the side netting and on 71 minutes there was a massive scramble in the Sittingbourne 6 yard box which eventually saw the ball hoofed clear. Creedie was injured in the melee and had to go off shortly afterwards - warmly applauded by home and away supporters as he limped off with a knee injury. Just after Macca had fired narrowly wide on 78 minutes - a rare bit of action ensued in Town's area when Kess having gone walkabouts outside the box managed to give the ball away with Stuart Playford, I think, being handily placed to prevent Sittingbourne going 2-0 up. All the action returned to the other end - Yatesie was well tackled just as he was about shoot, Simmo having actually beaten the offside flag took too long and from the resulting corner, the ball was deflected onto the crossbar and out for another corner which in turn resulted in another goal mouth scrum which saw Sittingbourne somehow clear their lines again. Must've been great entertainment for a neutral but - as for the Town supporters...........

92 minutes gone - Town launched a final attack and Stuart Myall took on and beat a defender and the subsequent shot blasted into the corner to give the home supporters something to cheer at last. A matter of a minute after Sittingbourne kicked off, it was all over.

SS

I'm sure I speak for all the Hastings fans in wishing Creedie a speedy recovery.

KH

So frustrating that the game at Newport was postponed as, yet again, this season's abysmal weather played it's part. Tony Cosens seems to think it'll mean a Thursday evening jaunt to the Isle of Wight for a game that still might have a big say in who goes up. In some respects, the postponement wasn't such a bad thing because - in addition to Tony Burt and Paul Ruddy not being available thru suspension and injury respectively - Stuart Playford and Tommy O had both gone down with flu. To say it would've been a makeshift defence is an understatement.

As to the games that were played on Saturday (Chelmsford-Burnham was also off) - Erith threw a spanner in the works by drawing 1-1 at Grantham. Grantham equalised with an 87th minute penalty. Baldock with all their money troubles, beat Banbury 1-0, and they left it late too, the goal coming in the 85th minute. We dropped back to 4th - and this is the top 6 after Saturday's results:-

We still have Grantham to play twice, Chelmsford at home and Newport away. Of the five sides after those two promotion spots, we have the most inferior goal difference and we all know that our bizzare home record will be the main reason if we miss out on going up. It'll be a case of "if only" when we look back to the home games with the likes of Histon, St Leonards, Corby and most recently, Sittingbourne.

But - be positive - right now we are one of the form teams - Chelmsford were well clear - but aren't any more, Grantham have stuttered of late and Baldock have all sorts of internal problems and while Newport have put in a great run to get back in contention, they've got 18 games to play in a matter of 7 weeks.

Saturday sees us kick off a run of 6 consecutive home games - with the re-arranged Newport trip possibly in amongst them. Included in those home games are a Dartford side who we've performed against badly the last three times we've played them - plus Grantham and Chelmsford. While we are hugely dependant on results elsewhere - those games could make or break our season.

And finally, all the very best to our neighbours and very good friends (and the most improved team in the league - they did beat low fliers, Spalding, recently after all) when they take on Newport at Fort Fun on Wednesday evening.

SS

Ruddy 43,Simmonds 70, Honey 71

Att:- 302

No one would deny that Town have been short on luck at home this season - that was put right big time as they had to come back from 0-1 and then 1-2 down to pick up three vital points that keep them in touch with the clubs chasing promotion. This against a determined Spalding side that gave everything and gave Town a big fright in the process.

The proverbial pin dropped after 17 minutes when completely against the run of play, Spalding took the lead. Yatesie's challenge was shrugged off and Kess had no chance with a well placed effort as Spalding ventured over the halfway line with real intent for the first time. Town had been right on top up to that point with all the action around the United area.

The pitch, that had been inundated enough on Thursday night for ducks to be seen swimming on it Friday morning, was very heavy and decent football was always going to be unlikely. Jonesie struggled on that surface as did Macca who had a rare, ineffectual game in midfield. Town kept up the pressure after conceding the lead but it was one of those frustrating days when the ball wouldn't run and it has to be said the boys didn't play well against a Spalding side that's had all kinds of off pitch problems in the last month or two. United just kept getting stuck in and the longer it went on, the more Town supporters began to wonder if the appalling home run was to be extended. Indeed, Spalding might've increased their lead when the Town defence found itself outnumbered - but. somehow, lines were cleared. Out of the blue, though, it was 1-1 when Simmo - having done well to stop the ball going out - fired in a cross that saw Paul Ruddy's header fly in at the far post.

The second half got really lively in the 56th minute when a goal mouth scramble resulted in a penalty and a red card for hand ball - Spalding down to 10 men and Town about to go 2-1 up........ or so we thought. Simmo's spotkick was well saved by Damien Steer, the ball was rapidly hoofed upfield and Kess, looking to be off his line, was well beaten by a good strike from way out. The home supporters at the covered end couldn't believe their eyes.

George decided to change things around and a few minutes later Terry White and Chris Honey came on. In very short time this made all the difference as Terry's long pass from midfield found Danny in space created by Spalding's manpower shortage, he took the ball on and beat Steer from the edge of the box. A minute later it was 3-2 when Macca's cross found an unmarked Chris Honey who headed home his first league goal for Town.

The one man advantage began to tell as Town pressed for a 4th goal and it was only more good work by Steer that prevented more goals. Kess had to be at his best in the 80th minute when his defence was caught out with the Spalding 3 in acres of space in the area - but Kess blocked his effort. Town held out for three welcome home points and Chris Honey's goal will be a landmark for three reasons - it won the game, it was his first league goal in around 40 attempts and it sees Town with a plus home goal difference for the first time this season!

SS

Simmonds 62

Att:- 380

Town are still in there after this hard fought but thoroughly deserved win over a Banbury side that had managed recently what precious few other sides have - they took a point off Newport last Tuesday night. United looked pretty solid in defence but offered very little up front - and there's some irony in Tony Kessell finishing the game unable to take goal kicks after picking up a leg injury in a collision with a Banbury striker on just about the only occasion they threatened his goal.

The pitch wasn't too bad after a few days of drying out though there were soggy patches here and there that made the ball do some pretty good imitations of bouncing in porridge. Simmo had a great game and on his current form is seriously threatening to take the Player of the Season award if he carries on. He was involved in most of what Town tried in the United box and set up Jonesie and Yatesie with good crosses early on. Jonesie's effort was smothered by the Banbury keeper while Yatesie just wasn't tall enough to get any direction on his header. Macca went the closest with a long range effort that the keeper did well to push away - especially as it picked up a deflection on the way. Another Macca effort saw a shot fly diagonally across the goal mouth with nobody on hand to knock it in.

So, 0-0 at half time but Town had put in a pretty good display - it was certainly better than the first half a week earlier against Spalding! Paul Ruddy - who, by the way, I thought had a bloody good game in midfield - went inches away from breaking the deadlock on 50 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box was just over the bar with the keeper well beaten.

The all important goal came on 63 minutes. Yatesie knocked a long ball into the box - and bearing in mind that flighted pass was parallel with the touch line and seemimgly straight at the keeper - it made Simmo's deft header that took it wide and just inside the post, an exceptional effort. Banbury pushed up after the goal, but Kess was never in any trouble which was just as well because he was clearly not right. All the serious goal attempts were by Town with Macca seeing a volley brilliantly beaten out by Simon Tricker while sub Chris Honey's goal bound header from a corner was somhow headed off the line.

Town were good value for the three points and are still in with a shout of grabbing a promotion place........

SS

TOP 6 AFTER SATURDAY'S RESULTS