Ghost of MG5YP: Hastings United Archive 2000/01 Match Reports October 2000

Magnificent Town march on!

T.White 34(p), Simmonds 73

Att:- 485

George Wakeling's reign couldn't have gotten off to a better start than this excellent Town display that followed on from Saturday's draw at Cheriton Road. Make no mistake - Town deserved this and showed yet again, the team can live with higher grade opposition.

Dave Wietecha - in the Invicta goal - was called into action early on - a 10th minute White/McArthur corner routine seeing him having to react well to beat out Duncan's effort. 18 minutes gone - and some great work down the right saw Paul Jones put in a pinpointy cross that an unmarked Stuart Myall knew he should've put away.

It was pretty even for the next 15 minutes - neither keeper tested - but Town looking comfortable against their Premier Division opponents. 34 minutes - another one of those McArthur breaks from midfield resulted in Macca being brought down in the box- and this time - referee Bottomer got it right as he pointed to the spot. Terry put the penalty away - just! Wietecha wasn't far away from saving it.

The referee infuriated the Town supporters by giving a constant stream of decisions in Invicta's favour while overlooking what looked like equally culpable offfences against Town - Paul Jones in particular. One particularly poor decision was one that actually benefited us - Folkestone broke down the left in acres of space next to our box - this after one of their guys had been fouled - and instead of playing adavantage - Bottomer blew for the free kick.

Folkestone came out for the second half in a more determined mood and for the opening 15 minutes or so, Town had to work hard in defence with Kess pulling off a good tip over save. Having weathered that spell of pressure with the odd collywobble - Town started to take adavantage of the space at the back as Folkestone kept pushing forward. Before the second. decisive strike, Duncan and Terry had golden opportunites to extend that slender lead - Terry will have been particularly disappointed with his header from a Paul Jones cross.

Having shown how to completely cock up advantage - referee Bottomer then highlighted his inconsistency by playing a perfect advantage - waving play on after Duncan had been fouled just outside the box. Terry found himself in space and put in a perfect cross that Simmo buried to the delight of the majority of the crowd - and himself! That's 6 games Simmo's scored in out of the last 7. That crucial goal came in the 73rd minute - Town still had plenty of defending to do and Kess had to pull off another good save from a free kick on ther edge of the box.

Referee Bottomer managed to infuritae the home supporters one final time when ignoring blatant thuggery on Chris Honey by the Invicta 7. How he missed that - and how the linesman missed it too - only they can know. And yet - it's two good decisions by Bottomer that led to our goals. You tell me!

Great to see off Folkestone after their double over us last season. We beat them AND showed them we can play a bit. Bring on Horsham in the 3rd Qualifier on October 14.

Rumours Rumours Rumours

Apparently - George Wakeling is on the lookout for a striker and a central defender. Now - presumably - he made it clear when he was interviewed for the job - that that was what he would need to turn Town into a promotion force - and - presumably - he only took on the job if he knew he'd be able to go out and get them......

We shall see. Whatever - it's a good start for George and let's hope that the team reproduces it's great form at Baldock on Saturday. Back to DM action - and however nice a run in the FA Cup is - promotion has to be the main aim.

If you're going to Norton Road - it's a 1.00 kick off - some big game on at Wembley later that afternoon.......

7/10/00 Baldock Town (1) 1 Hastings Town (1) 1

Keeper jitterbugs!

McArthur 11

Att:- 115

A point at second placed Baldock who've already seen off other title contenders, Newport and Grantham, has to be a point gained. Or is it? Town had so much second half pressure but were unable to convert it into goals.

But - looking at the headline - yes, it was a point gained. No Tony Kessell in goal - and no Shwan Jalal to step in. Some kind of left hand out of kilter with the right hand means that Kess is out in the USA for a week - some kind of birthday bash arranged by his folks (nobody at the club aware of this, apparently)- while Shwan picked up an injury in his trial at West Ham! So - first job for George Wakeling was to get a keeper for this afternoon and Tuesday (Erith - away) - and the replacement keeper was Danny Harwood who's been with Bromley, Erith and Welling.

Danny had a mixed afternoon with his handling and kicking in the Town goal and the Town supporters who made it up to Norton Road for the re-arranged 1.00 kick off (30 odd of us) were relieved the Town defence kept Baldock at bay for much of the game. For a start, he had huge problems with his goal kicks and was lucky on one occasion when a mis hit kick went straight to a Baldock forward who, unable to believe his good fortune, was rapidly dealt with by an alert Tony Burt. One particularly bizzare incident - Danny fielded a ball knocked into his area by Baldock - so he could've picked it up - but he dawdled and dawdled and in the end had to drop on the bloody ball at the last minute when a Baldock forward decided to try and take it off him. As for those goal kicks - WHY didn't one of our guys take them for him?

As to the game - Baldock looked pretty lively - especially down the left where their left back gave Smudger an interesting afternoon. Honours just about even so far as that battle was concerned. Town took an early lead - virtually a carbon copy of the goal at home to Newport - same guys, same corner routine. Another great effort from Duncan McArthur - who, if Villa don't go for him - must surely be on his way to a higher grade of football.

39 minutes gone and Baldock levelled from a free kick which was awarded after the referee (consistent in that he pissed both sets of supporters off) was taken in by a hang glider like dive on the corner of the Town box. In came the free kick - Harwood was caught in no man's land and the ball looped over him, 1-1.

Give the keeper credit - he got Smudger out of jail with an alert save after Smudge had inexplicably donated the ball to Baldock in the Town area. That - and the incident where he had to pounce on the ball at the last minute were the only real efforts Baldock made on our goal in the second half - thought the home supporters were disappointed when an effort on the last minute went well wide of Harwood's post. That would've been a huge injustice if it had gone in - Town had far more possession in the second half and good attempts from Tommy Osbourne (another excellent display), Jonesie and Simmo gave Adam Wheeler in the Baldock goal, plenty to do. Wheeler was hugely lucky to be still on the pitch at the end - somehow he got away with a yellow card for hand ball.

So - what with the other results - Town have dropped a place or two into the nether regions of the table - but are only 6 points off the top two. Bashley lost today, 0-2 at home to Histon, so it's just Chelmsford who remain unbeaten, and are up to second after beating Sittingbourne 1-0. St Leonard's unfortunate demise at home to Banbury - following their equally unfortunate demise at home to Dartford on Wednesday - sees us soar above them on goal difference.......

On the road again?

Town are away to Erith on Tuesday and will hopefully avenge that first ever defeat at their hands back in August. Yet another away game! After tat one we'll have played 9 matches, 3 at home and 6 away. FA Cup distractions beckon on Saturday when we would otherwise have been at home to Dartford - and the following Saturday - it's off to Jockingham Triangle where McCorby Town await. So - that'll be 10 played of which 7 will've been away.

24th October - unreal - Langney call in at The Pilot Field. Yeah - someone's actually coming to US. Give us a call if you need directions! When Histon visit us on 28th October - that'll be our first Saturday league fixture at home since 9th September - a mere 7 weeks. Oh well - the new club house should be open by then. It looked pretty close to completion last Tuesday night and will be a vast improvement on what was there before.

Looking at this Saturday - Ryman Div 2, Horsham will be calling in for an FA 3rd Qualifying Round tie. If we win that - we're in with the Conference boys in the next round and one game away from the 1st Round proper. Horsham are managed by ex Crawley chairman, John Maggs, and he seems to have got a useful side together - so it could be an interesting game. Hopefully, Meridian TV wil have a camera there as well.

Matt Ball?

What would football be without rumours? Matt was at the Folkestone replay and - as far as I know - has been talking with George Wakelin. Could Bally be one of the players brought in by the new manager? Who's on their way if he comes - presumably the budget is unable to accomodate an addition to the squad - or is it? Who knows!

Meridian - Folkestone replay.

Did anybody record the Meridian coverage of the replay that was screened on Wednesday night - and Monday come to that. They were at both games and muggins forgot - twice - to set his VCR up. Anybody? Anybody?

See you Tuesday night.

"Ghost of MG 5yp"

Issue 26 is now out and if you couldn’t make it to today’s game and get one, then drop me a line at the address on the right.

I know it’s a pain, but can you pay by cheque, please, to S A Stoddart, £1 and if you can also enclose a stamped addressed A5 envelope, then that’ll be even better!

93 The Ridge,
Hastings,
TN34 2AB.

10/10/00 Erith & Belvedere (0) 1 Hastings Town (0) 5

ANOTHER HAVE IT AWAY DAY!

Myall 57,60 P.Jones 67,89 Ferguson 80

Att:- 158

Another amazing result as Town's excellent away record continues to leave supporters slack jawed. And ample - more than ample - revenge for that 0-2 reversal Erith inflicted on us at The Pilot Field back in August.

No Duncan McArthur tonight - possibly down to the groin problem he picked up in the Folkestone replay. So - Paul Tuppenney stepped in and had a good 80 odd minutes. The team had a fine 90 minutes! How it was still 0-0 at half time was anybody's guess - Dean Lee, who was largely instrumental in Erith's Pilot Field win - was as much to blame again. He pulled off a good save after a great sweeping move resulted in him getting to Mylie's near post header after just 5 minutes. Other half chances went frustratingly begging - the ball doing it's evasive best in the Erith box - a Terry cross flashed across the goal mouth, Mylie's header from a Terry free kick was cleared after complete mayhem in the 6 yard box - one of Mylie's long throws caused similar chaos and Jonesie (another exceptional performance) put in a fine cross just as half time approached, which was despairingly intercepted at the last gasp. In contrast - Danny Harwood (a much more re-assured performance) had just the one save to make - and that saw him do well to tip an effort over the bar.

We couldn't believe it when 4 minutes into the second half, we found ourselves 0-1 adrift. A free kick into the Town box which nobody seemed to pick up, Harwood unsighted possibly, and in it went. We'd played 95% of the football - and here we were, 0-1 down. A complete travesty. But - the goal seemed to gee Town up and they improved on their first half performance with some excellent football. No doubt about it - they're getting bloody close to reproducing the form that the great 91/92 outfit showed and some of the football in the last month or so has been outstanding.

Great piece of skill from Stuart Myall as he evaded three - maybe four - tackles in the box to blast home a deserved equaliser on 57 minutes. 60 minutes, a quick Terry free kick caught the Erith defence asleep and there was Mylie crashing home Town's second! It got better - 67 minutes and Paul Jones on hand to knock in Terry's cross from close in. We might've been getting a soaking behind the goal - but so bleedin' what! Town had to defend their lead as Erith came back and went close to pulling one back when a lobbed effort flashed just wide of Harwood's post. Just after Simmo had an effort well blocked by Lee. Steve Ferguson was on hand to blast home from close in - 80 minutes gone and the game wrapped up. And it became 5-1 on 89 minutes - Jonesie breaking clear and putting a fine effort round Lee to conclude a great evening's entertainment.

Whether Gonad Gillard was there I don't know. For those who don't recall - Mr Rule book who played such a significant part in us being in this division - is on the Erith board. I hope he was there and I hope he was looking at the performance of a side that will regain it's rightful place in the Premier Division next season.

Well played boys!

14/10/00 Hastings Town (1) 2 Horsham (1) 3 [FAC3q]

Rocky Horsham Horror Show!

P.Jones 3, Myall 86

Att:- 626

Terry White will have to wait till next year for another Town attempt at making the 1st Round proper of the FA Cup - somrthing they have yet to achieve. Town certainly had a good chance to make progress towards Tel’s stated goal but an abysmal second half performance gifted the tie to Ryam Div 2, Horsham.

Town off to the perfect start on 3 minutes - a free kick from Terry that crashed off the crossbar for Jonesie to knock in the rebound. It could’ve been 2-0 two minutes later - good work down the left saw Paul’s cross flash across the Horsham goal with nobody on hand to touch it in. 30 minutes - Simmo should have done better than putting a header wide from a Jones cross with just Ian Chatfield to beat. Paul was having an outstanding game and those two missed opportunities surely illustrate the fact that we need a striker to link up with Paul who’s having a great season.

Horsham’s first serious raid saw them level on 40 minutes - Smudger left for dead by Gavin Geddes who went on to set up Steve Flain for a simple equaliser. Town might still have gone in leading at half time - yet more good work by Jonesie set up Stuart Myall who’s effort crashed off the post and back across the face of the goal - again, nobody on hand.

Horsham looked much sharper boosted by their equaliser and went ahead on 50 minutes when Tony Kessell’s headed clearance from outside the box fell nicely for Flain to lob Kess from 35 yards. 3-1 on 55 minutes - Matt Smart’s run along the edge of the Town box finishing with a good effort pass Kess. Town’s game seemed to fall apart after that double blow - absolutely nothing went right - overhit passes, sliced clearances, players not communicating with each other - in short, everything that could go wrong - did. Home supporters perplexed and the noisy Horsham contingent on cloud 9. Typical that we should see 45 minutes like that with a half decent gate.

A glimmer of hope on 86 minutes - Paul crossed for Mylie to volley in what was, ironically given Town’s appalling second hald display, the goal of the game - but it was too little, too late. Town’s poor FA Cup record goes on with this result - their first defeat in 11 games.

Oh well.....

Of course this was a huge disappointment - especially with all those ex Crawley tossers in the Horsham ranks. We seem doomed never to make the 1st Round proper. But - we were due a shite performance - the team’s been playing some great stuff of late and the main aim still has to be getting our Premier Division place back Speaking for myself - I’d rather save our good performances for DM games.

Worryingly - Smudger’s not having a good season at right back. Is it the captaincy putting pressure on him? I don’t think so - Smudge seems pretty well unfazed by everything. But he’s not the Smudge of old this season. And what of Terry? Ok - Tel’s never been known for his mobility - but he’s always been the best passer of a ball we’ve got, those years of experience are a big plus and as for his set pieces. But - like Smudger - we’re not seeing the Terry we know of old either.

Continuing on the playing front - it’s welcome home, Matt! Yes - Matt Ball has signed and will hopefully be in the side that treks off up to McCorby Town next weekend. It’ll certainly be interesting to see what George Wakelin’s reaction is to this afternoon.

See y’all at Jockingham Triangle - if you get a chance - unscrew a few seafront telescopes - you’ll need them with that bloody running track surrounding the pitch. Don’t forget to bring loads of 20 p pieces.

18/10/00 Bits and bobs

Updated: League table, Players (Mat Ball etc.)

Links added for: Banbury United (hasn't been updated since their promotion to the Dr Martens League), Burnham, a second Wisbech Town site and Shafted! the webzine for Maidstone United mentioned in Ghost 25. An extremely amusing site considering the apalling tale of rags to riches to rags again, which makes our own flirtation with MG pale into insignificance. Their asterix key must also be in a bad state.

Links deleted: Erith & Belvedere (site vanishes back into the Tao).

21/10/00 Corby Town (0) 2 Hastings Town (1) 1

Grim day at McCorby

P.Jones 26

Att:- No Idea

A grim day all round - speaking on a personal basis. Had it all planned out - decided to do this one by train. The car has a lot going for it - but at nearly £4 a gallon - it's daft not to use my free rail travel "perks". "Perks"?

We got to London Bridge a mere 60 minutes late after everything that could fail at Redhill - did fail. No matter - still time to get to Kettering for 2.30 - cab to McCorby in 15 minutes - there in time for 3.00. Yeah right - 1.30 St Pancras to Kettering? 20 minutes late on inward journey - then it became 25 minutes with further delays anticipated because of emergency speed restrictions after the accident at Hatfield.

At that point - I gave up - I couldn't see us getting there before 3.45 - with more of the same to be expected on the way back. So - I made a few phone calls - had to get someone to do the Arrow FM phone in - and set out back to Hastings.

Yes - more of the same. No sign of a Hastings train at London Bridge for 90 odd minutes.

I did find out on the train that we were 1-0 up thanks to Jonesie - only for Tony Cosens to wreck it all just after 5.00 when he told me we'd lost 1-2 with the deciding goal being a penalty awarded against, of all people, the returned Mat Ball. Town were apparently crap in the first half, and Corby were even crappier in the second.

That's the match report for what it is - look at Dave Moore's on the official site. Git! His mobile was switched off!

Our first away defeat of the season if you're stats minded. Crap last week and crap today. We'll just have to get it right on Tuesday night when Langney call in.

24/10/00 Hastings Town (0) 1 Langney Sports (0) 0

It's the result that matters

Burt 72

Att:- 516

What a bloody awful game. Well - 20 minutes onwards at any rate. The second half in particular - apart from a 10 minute spell when Town looked more like what we've been seeing of late. Both sides were appalling - passes given away - as bad a spectacle as you could hope to see (hope??).

Town did look pretty lively in that opening 20 minutes and Langney had plenty of defending to while Kess might as well have been the 517th spectator. The best opportunities of the opening 45 fell to Terry White - he should probably have done better with an unmarked header from a Steve Yates cross - but he was well wide. A good run by Tupps saw him break into the box only to scuff his shot wide of the post.

Terry's 39th minute free kick was just over and a minute or so later he went close again after a poor clearance reached him.

My scribbled notes for the second half comprised of four lines - there really was that little to write about. 64 minutes gone - Town put together a decent move that saw Terry stretching to put in a cross that bounced along the top of the Langney bar and out. Town supporters had something to cheer about on 72 minutes - a Terry free kick into the 6 yard box and there was Tony Burt powering home a header. He probably enjoyed that a little more - being against his old club. Terry went close late on - a good cross from Yatesie saw Terry's volley just wide.

Langney's only serious attempt on goal came even later - a volley flying over Kess's bar. Huge relief all the same for Town supporters whern Referee Wills (an appalling performance) blew for time.

Other bits'n pieces

Steve Smith wasn't playing tonight - he was seen leaving the ground before kick off. Only he and George Wakeling know what's going on behind the scenes. Smudger was substituted against Horsham, on the bench at Corby and didn't feature at all tonight. Read into that what you will.

Lots of moans and groans about George Wakeling's tactics - namely a 3-5-2 formation which some said was the reason for our poor performance on Saturday. But others said that shouldn't have turned our lads into poor passers. Others might say why change a system if what you've used is working ok - and after all - up to the McCorby result - we hadn't lost a League game since August 26. It does seem odd when you look at the performances at Sittingbourne and Erith - the side seemed to be getting it together. Ok - we lost to Horsham and the second half of that game was dire - but all sides are entitled to a bad day at the office.

I don't know. You have to give George a chance - till things went financially down the pan at Ashford last season - he'd got them on a bloody good run - 15 games unbeaten, top of the league. If he can do that at The Pilot Field with players that are better than what he had at Ashford - then he can play a 1-1-8 formation for all I care. I do know that Tommy Osbourne at right back tonight, looked as good as he does on the other side of defence.

Results went well for us tonight. Baldock lost 1-2 at home to Witney and Rothwell got stuffed 1-4 at Stamford. St Leonards could've done us a favour at Tonbridge - and didn't. They lost 0-1. We only moved up one place - to 10th - but it's a tight ol' division - we're 7 points off Rothwell and 6 off Chelmsford.

However poor the game tonight, the result was what counted and if we can build on that at home to Histon on Saturday, then that'll have gone some way towards making up for the McCorby McF**k up on Saturday.

Other HTFC vs Langney Sports reports

There are so many reports of this match on the internet: The Hastings official site, The Evening Argus, The Observer, The Eastbourne Herald and our own. Make sure if you only read one non-Hastings based site, visit their excellent official site.

28/10/00 Hastings Town (0) 0 Histon (0) 0

IT'S A CONSPIRACY!

Att:- 349

As one sided a 0-0 draw as you'll ever see. Conspiracy? Well - the weather and pitch didn't help, Histon seemed to be happy with a point from the start and once they'd gone down to 10 men, reverted to a 0-5-4 formation, Town's finishing let them right down and as for Referee Bentley - the sooner someone rams a manual on the Advantage rule where the sun doesn't shine - the better.

Town didn't play very well - it has to be said. But it was a better performance than Tuesday's. The opening 15 minutes produced nothing till Histon in a rare move forward might've done better when their 11 was all alone in the area and fired over Kess's bar. That seemed to kick start Town and they started putting a few moves together with Paul Jones featuring in most of them. Jonesie had better be careful - he'll get Player of the Season at this rate.

The best chance of the first half fell to Ballie who couldn't get enough of his head on the end of Terry's free kick. The highlight - for want of a better expression - of the first half was the dismissal of the Histon left back for fisticuffs with Mat. That incident was the referee's first Advantage cock up - Yatesie in miles of space, bearing down on the box - and Bentley brought it all to a stand.

The second half was all Town and the chances, half chances, shots, scuffs, heads in hands are too numerous to list - it was that one sided. Tommy O had the best chance - great bit of interplay with Mat saw Tommy scoop his effort well over, well wide. Terry had the other opportunities - a free kick after Bentley's second Advantage cock up saw Tommy on the edge of the 6 yard box ready to set up a chance - only for that whistle to go again. Terry's free kick went just wide. Terry had other long range efforts that weren't far away, Yatesie had a long range pop that would've rivalled Macca's effort against Newport if it hadn't been inches wide. Chris Honey came on and saw a shot fly well over - it was all so one sided!

Yet - Histon might've won the game. Kess had his first save to make in the 84th minute - a good smothering block. The resulting corner cacked a few pants in the Town defence and the underwear took a real bashing in the last minute when Town somehow scrambled their lines clear. It would've been an absolute travesty if Histon had won it. They worked bloody hard for their point - but Town'll be cursing themselves (and Referee Bentley) that they didn't win this.

Let's hope we don't look back at this one in May. And Corby come to that - that's 5 points blown against two indifferent outfits.

WAFFLE WAFFLE

Smudger Smith has left the club. This is a sad development because Smudge has been one of the big time favourites amongst Town supporters. But - BUT - he hadn't been the Smudge of old as was remarked upon recently. I agree with what George Wakeling said in the Observer about Smudge's distribution and his all round play. A lot of this is connected with Smudge being unable to train - that's down to the hours he has to put in at work. Perhaps his fitness suffers as a result - he certainly got taken to the cleaners by Horsham for their equaliser and the Baldock left back ran him into the ground as well. He's only about 30-31, but is well known for candle burning at both ends and if that's combined with no training - then his overall game has to suffer. Hence the point that was made on this very topic a week or two ago.

What is very sad is that Smudge appears to have walked out instead of trying to get his place back. He hasn't become a bad player, he's got plenty of games left at this level, if not higher and he's got the ability to get his place back. I hope he comes back because the side needs Smudger Smith back at his very best.

Good luck to Paul Hobbs who's moved onto Ashford where first team opportunities will be better for him. Things never worked out for Hobbsie after that nasty going over he got late one night in Gillingham a year or so ago. Yeah - all the best Hobbsie.

Archive

Dr Martens League Eastern Division 2000-01

3/10/00 Hastings Town (1) 2 Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 [FAC2qr]