Archive
Dr Martens League Eastern Division 2001-02
5/8/01 Wingate & Finchley (1) 1 Hastings Town (0) 0
Another pre season hiccup
Didn't make this one so can only go on the Clubcall account of the game. Goal came after 6 minutes - long cross/shot/hike caught Dave King out and the ball went in off his far post.
Town pretty poor in the first half - much improved in the second - hit various parts of the goal frame 3 times - but no goals came from all the domination.
Can't draw any conclusions from pre season - don't go over the top about wins and don't despair over defeats - August 18th is when it all counts.
Having said that - Tuesday night sees Town at Hailsham where Mark Leaney (Town's ex reserve manager) has just got the Bumpkinship outfit back into Div 1 with the aid of a large handful of ex Town players. Could be a lively one. Kick off 7.45 I believe - check with the club on 444635.
And Barnet's first team is here on Thursday night.
SS
New websites
David Bauckham's (Eastbourne Borough) new project is now on-line. Nomad is an extension of a column in their match day programme. It has links and directions for all clubs in Sussex down to county league 3. He is also relaunching their official website on the 10th of August, so keep your eyes peeled.
This season's fixtures are now on the results page.
KH
7/8/01 Hailsham (1) 1 Hastings Town (1) 2
Town emerge unscathed
Att: ~150
Nothing very friendly about this pre season - a game which would have resulted in several red cards had it not been treated in the light hearted manner usually seen in such fixtures. Even allowing for that - it was frankly a miracle nobody was sent off or badly hurt.
Hailsham fielded half a dozen ex Town players at the Beaconsfield which had changed very little from my last visit back in 89/90 when we were hugely fortunate to scrape a 1-1 draw in the FA Vase. There was always going to that much more "bite" to such a game and mutterings were to be heard amongst spectators about the wisdom of arranging such a game at all.
What a bloody awful game it was too. The highlight had to be Terry's excellent free kick that gave Town an early lead. Macca was hugely wound up for this one - and should really have been substitued for his own good. Do we need one of our most influential players getting himself crocked or booked in a pre season friendly? How one of the two didn't happen was a miracle in what was a very physical game as both sides got stuck in.
Embarrassingly, I had to ask our goal keeper what his name was - turned out to be 16 year old Peter Newstead who's signed from Westfield. After a shaky start, he did ok too. 1-1 at half time - Hailsham levelling with a late own goal when a cross was planted in the wrong net. Fair reflection of the half. Town were better in the second half and deserved their win which came from Stuart Playford's bullet like header from a Simmo corner.
Be interesting to see what side we put out on Thursday for the Barnet game. And talking about players - IS Flanagan signing from Fort Fun or not? What is going on? Anybody out there got any answers?
SS
11/8/01 Hastings Town (0) 0 Barnet (0) 1
McArthur red card folly!
A promising display against Conference Barnet was completely over shadowed by Duncan McArthur's temper getting the better of him. Lucky not to see yellow or red against Hailsham, he talked his way off the pitch - and that after the referee had given Town the option of subbing him after an initial bout of chops following a decision he didn't agree with. To get sent off in a pre season game - and for chops at that - is ludicrous, and Town could well find themselves without his services for 3 games as a result.
Bloody ridiculous - even after the referee had given him the easy way out - he had to keep gabbling and despite the efforts of several Barnet players to placate the referee and not send Duncan off, the red card was produced.
And it did spoil a good performance by Town who went down to a penalty half way through the second half after Burty mistimed a tackle. Duncan had produced Town's best efforts on goal in the first half - one of which crashed off the bar. Jonesie might've done better in a one on one - but the ball was scrambled clear. Game didn't kick off till 8.30 or so - Barnet held up on the M25.
Worrying perhaps that Town are misfiring up front - but the McArthur red card .......................
SS
14/8/01 Bromley (0) 0 Hastings Town (0) 0
One friendly to go
Didn't bother with this one - so what little I write here is based on what I read in the Non League Paper Sunday morning. Pretty even game, both keepers did good jobs - Danny Harwood for Bromley who, if I recall correctly, played a couple of games for us last season - at Baldock and Erith.
Tony Cosens mentioned a trialist who played at centre back - didn't catch the name - but he looked useful. Could be another one in the side at Bishops Stortford on Tuesday night.
Terry played for the reserves - they're managerless following the resignation of Glyn White - just what's prompted that, I don't know. They did bloody well to beat Ramsgate 3-1 by all accounts.
Less than a week to go - a good start would be nice - if we get more than a point from our first three games, it'll be better than last season's start!
SS
15/8/01 Bishops Stortford 1 Hastings Town 2
Pre season ends on a high -
now for the real thing
Only a sketchy report cos - I confess - I couldn't be arsed to trek off up to Hertfordshire or wherever for a friendly game. Thanks to Dave Bealey for his report - and that was that Town were exceptional and thoroughly deserved their win.
Two new faces - Adam Flanagan from Fort Fun and - out of the blue this one - ex Town midfielder from 98/99, Danny Chapman, who's just been released by Dover. As these two haven't played in any other pre season games, it would be rather odd if they weren't to be part of George's plans. Just playing one game - the last one before it all starts in earnest - would be most unusual. Both would be very useful additions to the squad which will hopefully have that strength in depth we didn't have last season.
As to the goals - they came from Macca and Steve Ferguson - both set up by Paul Jones. Macca - incidentally - misses the Rugby and Eastbourne Boro games after his rush of blood to the head in the Barnet game - and sitting out the Eastbourne game in particular will hopefully give him time to think it all out. He was outstanding in this game according to Dave Bealey.
Yeah - the real thing starts with the visit of Wisbech on Saturday. Here's crossing fingers that the next 42 games and 9 months will see us regain what Gillard & Co took away in the shake of the DM League's rule book. Still bitter and twisted? Dead right.
See you Saturday.
SS
18/8/01 Hastings Town (0) 2 Wisbech Town (0) 1
Att: 356
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Town are traditionally indifferent at best when it comes to the opening day of the season - and when, after having completely dominated the first 45 - they went 0-1 down early in the second half - the common line of thought was "'Ere we go again". The first half was all Town with the team looking in good shape - and new signings, Adam Flanagan from Fort Fun, and Dave King in goal looking in good nick. Highlight of that opening period was Macca's unbelieveable run from halfway right through the Wisbech defence which was finished off with a chip of the crossbar - what a goal that would've been. Chris Honey had a good half too - along with Jonesie who was all over the place as usual. Oddly - Steve Yates was at left wing back which was a great disappointment given that it looked as if he'd get his old role out on the right back - which is where a lot of people think he's at his best. Town had a lucky escape on 22 minutes when the Wisbech 7 went down in the box - couldn't see who made the challenge - but it looked a penalty - but not to referee John Wills who had a hopeless game. After that promising but frustrating half in which Yatesie, Chris Honey, Macca and Simmo had all gone close - it came as a big blow when we found ourselves 0-1 down on 49 minutes. Wisbech probably felt it was poetic justice that their 7 broke away amongst shouts for offside to bury the ball past Dave King. Town's game plan fell apart for 20 minutes or so and it might even have gotten worse had it not been for the Wisbech 9 firing over the bar in a one on one. I don't know if there's a record kept for moans at the manager - but they were heard in that second half (More on that to follow this report). All 3 subs came on in the last 15 minutes - Terry White, Graham Webb and Tommy O. And it was a Terry free kick that led to Burtie's equaliser - the free kick being headed back across the area for Tony to knock the ball home. Wisbech's heads seemed to drop at the late blow - and it got worse for them when Jonesie was released down the left by Macca with his cross being converted by the diving Chris Honey in the 90th minute as the rain poured down. Big celebrations amongst a reasonable opening day gate when the final whistle blew as Town did to Wisbech what they did to us with two late strikes at their place back in April. See you at Tonbridge on Tuesday. |
MACCA
Having initially heard that Duncan's suspension for his Barnet red card would be 2 games - we were hearing on Saturday that, for some reason, this comes under the Spanish Inquisition's disciplinary committee - the Sussex County FA. His ban will - so we were hearing - be 30 days - 8 games, plus a ludicrous £25 fine. Only the Sussex FA could have a system where the number of pounds fined is less than the number of days suspended. Just our luck that completely unnecessary chops by Macca should result in a dismissal that falls under the jurisdiction of an organisation like the Sussex County FA. All we can do is hope that all this is rumour mongering - especially given that Duncan played really well today and showed what we're going to miss.
MOSES JJUNJU
Er - where was Moses today? Picture in the Observer not long ago of him putting pen to paper next to Mick Maplesden, featured in most of the pre season games including Bishop Stortford last Tuesday - but no sign of him today - and no mention of him in the programme section where new players (Flanagan, King and McCann) were welcomed to the club. As has already been said - he looked useful, small and nippy etc, etc - and we already have plenty of that - but what is going on?
While on the subject on new players - Peter McCann has to work on his fitness, apparently. Micky Taylor up at Fort Fun was going on about Flanagan coming down here - but rumours to that effect had been doing the rounds for a couple of months - so it's not as if it came out of the blue. Taylor just had to get a dig in that Flanagan signing for us wouldn't do anything for his football. Just how sour do those grapes taste, then?
Danny Chapman who played for us at Bishop Stortford ended up doing a deal with Folkestone. And - back to the Moses mystery - if he's not coming here - does that mean the budget might be able to accomodate another player - a striker dare I say?
MOANS AT THE MANAGER
I can't believe that it's started already. When Town looked in the doldrums after going behind to Wisbech, it all started. George Wakeling knows as well as anybody that we need a striker - he also has a budget to operate within. Good strikers don't come cheap - Portway at Chelmsford last season was reputedly on £350 a week for a start. I believe Chris Honey could do the business for us - and his performance against Wisbech bodes very well for the coming season.
The team played poorly for about half an hour against Wisbech - the confidence levels dropped visibly after they went behind (totally against the run of play) - and you'll see that every Saturday afternoon - but they kept plugging away and deserved to win it because they were the better side for more of the game. I don't recall Dean White, Garry Wilson or Peter Sillett ever coming in for stick at such an early stage - so give George a chance!
VIDEO COVERAGE
Took my hi tech " does everything" digital gizmo camera with me to the Wisbech game - and captured both our goals! One thing for sure - combining that with scribbling down bits'n pieces for the match reports will not work. While I was writing about a goal mouth scramble in the Wisbech goal they broke away and scored - really! Still - I got the important ones. But I will have to get a secretary to take down notes for match reports.
SS
21/8/01 Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Hastings Town (1) 5
Magnificent!
Att: 432
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As good as it gets. Last season we went to Longmead on the back of a 0-4 Pilot Field drubbing at the hands of Tonbridge. Winning 4-2 that afternoon was good - this was something else as Town built up on the foundations laid at home to Wisbech on Saturday. And just like on Saturday, they had to come from behind after having had all the play. Joe Radford had already pulled off two great saves from the outstanding Chris Honey and Adam Flanagan as Town dominated the game. It came as a real shock when we found ourselves a goal down on 18 minutes when the Town defence seemed to back pedal allowing the Tonbridge 10 to fire inside the post - Dave King might have been a tad unsighted. Unlike Saturday - Town didn't run out of ideas. While they didn't create a lot in the Angels box, they kept playing decent football and the deserved equaliser came on 44 minutes. Long diagonal ball to Macca - who had a hell of a game - who crossed for Chris Honey to duplicate his goal on Saturday - another diving header into the far corner. Great move - great goal. The second half was unbelievable with Town being completely in charge from start to finish. Tony Burt got in on the end of a Macca free kick to volley Town ahead to the delight of the sizeable Town support behind Radford's goal. It got better on 52 minutes - Steve Ferguson's well placed effort from the edge of the box seemed to catch Radford unsighted - but who cared. Almost a replica of Chris's first half goal - diagonal ball to Macca whose inch perfect cross was headed in by Simmo at the far post on 72 minutes - a hat trick of assists for Macca who we now lose for up to 8 games. And Tommy O went on a great run only to be denied at the last gasp by Radford who's efforts in the Tonbridge goal prevented a rout turning into a massacre. Icing on the cake in the 78th minute when Jonesie beat his man with ease - got to the by line and set up Burtie for his second and Town's fifth. The Town support loved every bit of it - and at the final whistle, the players gave us all a big hand. Special mentions for Chris Honey, Duncan McArthur and Adam Flanagan. Chris has had two outstanding all round games capped with two superb goals. Unbelievably - so the rumour goes - he's on holiday for a couple of weeks from Saturday - can't anyone persuade him that somewhere like, er Hastings, might be a good place to go? Macca - what can you say about Duncan other than "We'll miss you" with that lengthy suspension likely to deprive us of his services starting with the Rugby Utd game on Saturday. Hopefully, Stuart Myall will be available from Saturday. And Adam Flanagan is looking a fine addition to the team - a good all round couple of performances in defence and attack. |
Spielberg - eat yer heart out
Still fiddling around with the camera trying to see what it does - and I managed to film the guy standing next to me's left trainer in some detail when I forgot to turn it off (The spirit of Andy Warhol lives on - KH). Burtie's first goal and Fergie's effort were captured in a sickly sort of green when I tried out the "Night light" facility - but the other goals were captured in every day colour!
Thanks to my secretary Toby Cooke for taking down the notes from which this match report was compiled. If you're at Rugby on Saturday, would you be available again?
EARLY DAYS
........ but we are top of the league with the likes of Grantham (they scraped through 6-0 at 10 man Wisbech), Chatham and Stamford. According to the Tonbridge programme - we're 8/1 to win the league - behind Grantham, Fisher, Dorchester and Histon. To go Tonbridge and win 5-1 is something else - let's see if the consistency's going to be part of our season.
SS
25/8/01 Rugby United (0) 0 Hastings Town (0) 0
Cars'n trains - I hate 'em
Att: 273
Can only go on what Mark Westbrooke told me cos I never made it to Butlin Road. It all goes wrong in threes they say - and so it did for me.
Drove the kids to Tunbridge Wells and left the little dears with grandma for the week - then off to Three Bridges to get the 11.30 train to Rugby - yes, a direct service from Sussex to the Midlands.
Traffic horrendous - miss the 11.30 by about a minute - that's cock up number 1, but as I'm thinking it's not so bad cos there's a 12.30 that'll get me to Rugby at 2.51, I notice smoke billowing from under the car - gear box oil appears to be splattering all over the exhaust - cock up 2 - leave car behind with intention of sorting it out Sunday - get on the 12.30 only for the bloody thing to terminate at East Croydon - no driver to take it onwards and that's cock up 3.
Tommy O missed the best chance of the lot according to Mark - but he reckoned 0-0 was probably a fair result on a very humid afternoon.
Look forward to Eastbourne Boro on Monday - bollocks to Connex South Central and the Ford Motor Company - I'll bleedin' walk........
SS
27/8/01 Hastings Town (0) 1 Eastbourne Borough (0) 0
TOWN LEAVE IT SO LATE AGAIN!
Att: 551
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If there was ever a game where it was the result that counted - this was it. A truly appalling 90 minutes with Eastbourne distinctly unfortunate to lose a game neither side deserved to win. The difference between the sides - other than a typical Jonesie goal - was that Borough gave away the ball slightly less than Town did. That's 4 times we've played Garry Wilson's lot since they came up - and apart from the league win at their place last season - the games have been horrendous spectacles. Maybe that's what you get with local derbies. Gavin Hoare - the referee - had a poor game and Town supporters were well pissed off with his first half display when hardly anything went our way. Eastbourne looked more lively up front than we did - especially on the flanks. Had they had a decent No 9, they might well have been a couple of goals up at half time but weak finishing on his part - and a stroke of fortune for Dave King when he got away with spilling a low cross - saw the sides level at half time on a progressively hotter afternoon. Added spice - if you can use such a word to describe such a turgid 90 minutes - in the ex Hastings contingent in Eastbourne colours - Garry Wilson manager, Ray Tuppen physio, Liam Barham, Sticky Willard, Phil Henderson and Keith Miles - Milo with his Stains connections got a warm welcome when he came on late in the game. Town were marginally better in the second half and the Borough keeper had more to do. Reasonable efforts on goal from Flanagan, Jones and Osbourne - while Dave King was kept on his toes with a couple of long range efforts. Adam Flanagan was distinctly lucky not to see Town concede a goal when the ball was nicked off him as he tried to see it out for a goal kick - Boro should have gone 1-0 up from the resulting lay off - but the chance flew high over the bar. Jonesie's goal - typical Paul - as he held off two defenders and burst into the area to fire home inside the near post with a couple of minutes to go. Town held out reasonably comfortably for the three points which at 6.00 pm saw us equal top on 10 points with Grantham who could only draw 1-1 at home to Spalding, and Chatham who were held to the same scoreline by Burnham. Stamford were at Rothwell for an evening kick off. |
BAD DAY ALL ROUND
Er - sorry Paul - complete incompetence on the camera man's part (yeah, that's me) - your run into the area for the goal was captured in every day colour - umm, the goal wasn't - but I did get everybody jumping on you afterwards. Just about summed the afternoon up.
SS
26/8/01
Photo frenzy
After playing around with Simon's camera, we managed to get some photographs of the Wisbech and Tonbridge games, which we've now inserted into the reports below. They'll get better as the season progresses.
Bypass Website
Everyone has a view on the failed bypass attempt. Here's an excellent website by a local artist which examines the route, and shows pictures of what we would have lost. It also has a link to download the Access to Hastings Government report, so you can see for yourself what the civil servants really recommended, rather than the mangled version the local media foisted upon us.
KH