Archive

Dr Martens League Eastern Division 2001-02

Season 01/02

Reports 01/02

5/12/01

Washout @ Erith

Er - I know it pissed down Monday night - but Tuesday was fine all day - and to find out on the M25 on our way to the return with Erith that the game was off because of a waterlogged pitch was a surprise to say the least. Never thought to check the game was still on. And it had been off since around midday. To get that far and find it was off was deep joy (not) with the added bonus of trying to get off the M25 and get home - taking a wrong turning really helped.

Will definitely check the Corby game's on before I set out for that one.

VIDEO 2001/2 HIGHLIGHTS PART ONE

Should be on sale shortly. A 3 hour tape, thoroughly amateur in all respects, but plenty of interesting moments captured on tape - more by accident than design. Available for £8.50 - club will benefit by £3.50 for each tape I sell - the rest will go towards paying for the bleedin camera!

"GHOST OF MG 5yp" - ISSUE 31

Fingers crossed - issue 31 will be out for the Spalding game on December 15th. Working hard at getting it all put together - if I can't get it done in time, then it'll be New Years Day when the Stains are in town.

SS

8/12/01 Corby Town (0) 0 Hastings Town (4) 5

Vital Win

Myall 2, Flanagan 2, Zahana-Oni
Att: 80


Landry takes em on (Click to enlarge)

Mylie wraps it up on half time (Click to enlarge)

The joys of a running track round the pitch (Click to enlarge)

Town go 2-0 up (Click to enlarge)

A good half of the attendance must have come up from Hastings - poor gates are leaving Corby in real trouble and their manager's gone in recent weeks as have several players. Still - good to avenge that mugging at The Pilot Field back in October. Dorchester were playing a Senior Cup game so we went above them into 2nd place and did our goal difference the world of good into the bargain. Grantham won 3-0 at Erith and are three points ahead of us having played two games more.

Good start - 7 minutes gone and Mylie's long range effort flew past Des Elliott who's keeping was one reason Corby beat us in the home game. Only ever one side in it - the lead was doubled when Adam's header slipped through Elliott's teflon coated gloves and Zananh made it 3-0 when he picked up a rebound off the bar - a la Erith - and drove it in through a forest of legs. Mylie was set free for the 4th on 44 minutes as he comfortably powered the ball home from just inside the edge of the area. No Mylobatics - but we did get a celebratory hand stand.

All over at half time - and games like that are often an anti climax in the second half - and this was no exception. Goal of the game from Adam on 50 minutes when he volleyed in Duncan's corner as the afternoon got colder and colder. Macca's first game back after being out with flu - he needs another game to get up'n running again - but his verbals are in fine nick and he got booked again.

Strength in depth for all to see - the bench had Lee Mac, Honey Monster and Graham "Spider" Webb on it. They all got a run out as George took the opportunity to rest players with the game comfortably won. Just hope that whatever Corby's troubles are - they don't do what Bloxwich have just done and resign from the DM League half way through the season!

SS

11/12/01 Hastings Town (2) 5 Folkestone Invicta (0) 0 [DMC2]

MORE LEAGUE CUP THRILLS

Zahana-Oni 3, Honey 35, 59, Yates 47. 77
Att: 215


Early lead for Town (Click to enlarge)

Lee Mac on top form (Click to enlarge)

Yatesie enjoys the fifth (Click to enlarge)

Zahana takes em on (Click to enlarge)

Couldn't make this one again - bloody work! But then - it's the DM Cup which in it's early stages is about as interesting as - hmm - the Sussex Senior Cup in IT'S early stages. Obviously credit is due to the lads for seeing off a Premier Division Folkestone side that's doing well this season and sent what looked a strong side over for this game.

Best possible start when Zanana fired home on 3 minutes when the Invicta keeper - Dave Weitecha who we saw recently on loan at Ashford - couldn't hold on to a Lee Mac shot. In fact - while it might have been 2-0 at half time - there was every bit as much going on in Dave King's area as there was the other end. Our old favourite, Nicky Dent, was a handful all night and on another day Folkestone might've had a couple of goals themselves to show for their efforts.

But Town made their attacking count in terms of goals and on 35 minutes, Chris Honey was on hand to knock in a rebound to double the lead. That after other efforts from Lee Mac and Yatesie saw shots either fly wide or be well saved by the keeper.

Deja vu on 47 minutes - those who saw Yatesie's brilliant lob at Ashford will have enjoyed watching him do exactly the same early in the second half as Town rather flatteringly found themselves 3-0 ahead and the game effectively won. Chris Honey got his second and Town's fourth on 59 minutes after efforts from Rudds and Zahana had been blocked. All over in the 77th minute when Yatesie emphatically fired home number 5 - again deja vu - very much like the final goal at home to Dartford in the same competition.

How distraught were Folkestone - how elated were our lads - it IS only the DM Cup so nobody'll be carried away. Saturday's game with 3 points at stake is rather more pressing! But - for all that - well done lads.

SS

16/12/01

What a bloody shambles. One of those frustrating situations where it's impossible to pin the blame on anybody - ours was the only Eastern Division game to be postponed on Saturday and while we kicked our heels, kicked pebbles - ANYTHING except a bloody football, our promotion rivals all played and all won.

What this does show is the all too far drawn out layout of the "Southern" League. Just our luck we were due to play Spalding - 180 odd miles between them and us and with temperatures plummeting overnight to sub zero, it was no surprise the Pilot Field pitch was frozen this morning. Figures of around £500 were being bandied around for Spalding's coach hire to get down to Hastings and back - so with the pitch unplayable early this morning, there was no choice but to postpone the game so as to save them a possible wasted trip - which it wouldn't have been because temperatures went up through the morning and even though there was a bit of rain about, the pitch would've been perfectly playable come 3.00 pm. But as we haven't invested in a crystal ball or an advance hind sight machine - we ended up in this ludicrous situation.

That's three games postponed in recent weeks - and in two cases the respective pitches were perfectly playable while the other game at Fisher was put off due to them being involved in the Kent Senior Cup or something similar that people don't give a toss about. Just remember that if we find ourselves having to play three games in the last week of the season with a promotion place at stake.

Grantham won 3-1 at home to the Stains, Dorchester won 3-1 at Burnham and Histon beat Ashford 1-0. We drop to 3rd - 3 games in hand on Grantham, 2 on Dorchester and 2 on Histon - but you can't beat points in the bag.

Frustrating or what - having missed recent games due to work commitments, I could've made this one.

VIDEO - HTFC 2001/2 part one

Now available - priced at £8.50 - my amateur record of the season so far. Just about fills up a 3 hour tape and features bits'n pieces from every match up to the home game against Erith (except the one up at Rugby). Tapes will be available at the club shop next Saturday when we're at home to Rugby United - or you can drop me a line and a cheque for £9.50 to cover postage etc - cheque to S A Stoddart, at 93 The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2AB.

"Ghost of MG 5yp" issue 31

Fanzine would've been on sale outside the ground on the 15th - but will now be available next weekend instead.

SS

All the action (Click to enlarge)

22/12/01 Hastings Town (4) 4 Rugby United (0) 1

BRRRRRR

Myall 4, 15, Jones 6, 34
Att: 405


Mylie's corner straight in (Click to enlarge)

Mylie enjoys the third (Click to enlarge)

Red card shambles (Click to enlarge)

Yatesie denied (Click to enlarge)

What a first half performance this was. 15 minutes on the clock and Town already 3-0 up over a Rugby outfit that was never in the hunt in as one sided an opening spell as you'll ever see. The game had been under threat due to the concrete like surface - especially in front of the main stand. The referee had a good look at about 2.00 and from all accounts was in two minds to call it off. But both sides wanted to play the game - so it went ahead.

Macca went close after just 2 minutes - a break into the United area and having got past the keeper, his half hit goal bound effort was cleared off the line. But Mylie gave Town an early lead following a great combination between Steve Yates and Chris Honey which finished with a fine volleyed finish. To my disgust - and Mylie's if he reads this - the goal wasn't captured on film as - having had to cross from one side of the ground to the other to avoid the sun - I hadn't gotten any where near getting the camera ready! Sorry Stuart.

Jonesie doubled the lead on 6 minutes - he chested down a pass from Yatesie and turned and hit first time a great effort past the keeper from just inside the box. Two fantastic goals already - Christmas had come early at The Pilot Field in front of a very respectable "last Saturday before the big day" attendance of 405.

3-0 on 15 minutes when Mylie's corner was missed by the keeper and the ball went straight in just inside the far post. Town were rampant at this stage and could well have had more goals - Stuart Playford hit a post when scoring looked easier, Jonesie might've got another, Chris Honey had a good opportunity in front of goal but couldn't get anything on the ball, Mylie fired just wide - it was one way traffic. All done and dusted on 34 minutes when a Jonesie break from half way saw him slot the ball past the keeper to make it 4-0. Sadly - THAT one wasn't captured in full - just as Paul broke away, I was distracted and could only switch back on just as the ball was going in. Paul must think I'm picking on him - that's four of his goals that've been cocked up on film.

At the other end - the defence didn't have a lot to do - but Rugby did create two good chances - one rebounded off a post while Dave had to be alert to another effort that saw him tip it over the crossbar. So, 4-0 at the break and some concern amongst Town supporters that the game might not finish on an afternoon when the temperature continued to go down.

But the game did finish - and that second half was very similar to that up at Corby recently where the momentum was lost at half time. United got their goal early in the second half when a penalty was converted - couldn't see what it was for - will have to take another look at the video on that one. Town weren't at their best in that second period - but might've scored more goals - Jonesie missed out on a hat trick when his one on one with the keeper saw the ball go wide of a post. Yatesie was denied by some brave goal keeping at his feet with that being the last serious attack on the United goal.

Comedy of errors near the end when Rugby's 6 was sent off for a second yellow card. The linesman had to intervene to confirm what some supporters were shouting out - namely, that he'd already had a booking - so, eventually, off he went.

Grantham didn't play - their game at home to Burnham was postponed. Dorchester won 2-0 at Ashford and Histon won 1-0 at home to Eastbourne who we visit on Boxing Day. Histon's good run of late has seen the Eastern Division promotion battle turn into a 4 horse race - but Histon surely couldn't go up with their ground being as basic as it is. Still - the top 4 look like turning it into a mini league all of it's own.

NO LANDRY FOR HOW LONG?

Landry Zananha - Oni is out of the reckoning for an unknown period after a bout of festive fisticuffs in a mid week "friendly"/practice game against Sidley saw him emerge from it all with a fractured cheek bone which is a nasty injury that can lead to weeks out of action. I've yet to see anyone who was actually at the game - so it's difficult to make any constructive comments about losing a hugely talented player with some vital games lying ahead. The only bit of good news is that having had to go into hospital, he's back out again - so fingers crossed this isn't as serious as it seems to be.

SS

26/12/01 Eastbourne Borough (2) 3 Hastings Town (0) 0

BOXING DAY BALLS UP

Att: 776


Borough keeper to the rescue (Click to enlarge)

Caption competition - what is Dave saying in the background after the own goal (Click to enlarge)

Tommy O battles it out (Click to enlarge)

Two down (Click to enlarge)

The only positive thing to come out of a hugely frustrating afternoon just along the Sussex coast at the excellent Priory Lane stadium was finding out Grantham's and Histon's games were off while Bashley did us a huge favour by holding Dorchester to a 1-1 draw and, by so doing, ended the 100% home record Mark Morris's boys had enjoyed up till that point.

Our run of 8 successive wins came to an abrupt and - like it says - frustrating end against a Borough side that seemed to be more up for it than our boys - though I find that hard to believe even as I write it. Nobody can deny that we didn't play well - they always seemed to be first to the ball - we kept over hitting or under hitting passes - we had so much possession - their keeper pulled off three good saves yet we ended up well beaten. This was also our first league defeat on the road.

The worst possible start - bit like Saturday in reverse - we found ourselves 0-1 down after 2 minutes when a hashed clearance fell nicely and with Dave out of position, the ball was slotted home from an acute angle. The goal wasn't captured on film - er, bit like the comedy of errors that led to it - I was attending to a runny nose at the time.

Town just never got going after that early blow. Plenty of possession - who knows what the corner count was - but we just didn't look like breaking down the home defence. The Borough keeper got away with dropping the ball from a corner - Yatesie had our best opportunity but headed a free kick well over when well positioned. A minute or so after a Mylie blockbuster had been beaten out - action switched to the other end and a cross field move resulted in an effort rebounding of Dave's crossbar with Stuart Playford heading out for a corner. From that corner - the Borough 9 was allowed to turn and fire home their second from just outside the 6 yard box. That was on 31 minutes.

Town - as expected - came out in a more determined frame of mind for the second half. Big appeal for a penalty after Chris Honey went down. I couldn't see much - even with the video to look at afterwards - but my match report compiler, Phil Donaldson, thought it a valid appeal. But we didn't get it. Town kept putting on the pressure without playing well - Tommy O went on a fine run and fired just wide, Chris had an effort comfortably held and with things looking a little more lively following the introduction of Lee Mac for the ineffectual Yatesie - it came as a massive shock to go 0-3 down on the hour when Dave ended up in his own net with the ball having appeared to push a cross over the line for an own goal.

Macca tested the keeper with a long range effort that was spectacularly pushed over the bar - Webbie (on for Adam Flanagan) saw a header beaten out by the keeper who had a good day at the office on all counts - and Chris will have been disappointed not have got a goal back when well placed - but his effort went wide.

So - as it says above - at least the other results didn't go against us. We remain 3 points off the top - today saw us use up a game in hand on Grantham and Histon - we still have two in hand on Dorchester and one on the other two. One very happy man this afternoon - our ex boss Garry Wilson who clearly savoured every moment of his lot's win as he followed them off the pitch.

As for our current boss - George will have to get things up and running at Burnham on Saturday - and there is the matter of a New Years Day derby against the Stains next Tuesday.

SS

COME ON YOU "U's"

Like it says - rumours rumours rumours. But - from what I can gather from a reliable source - Mark Gardiner has disposed of the Hastings United name which he'd owned for the last few years. I also hear whispers that someone high up at HTFC now has rights to the United name.

What do you lot think of the prospect - however vague and unfounded it might be - of Hastings United kicking off the 2002/2003 season at The Pilot Field? While there would probably be some Town supporters anti such a move - I expect there are others in Hastings who'd be made up to see the old U's take to the field once again. There are probably old United supporters in the town who've never set foot in The Pilot Field since that bleak day back in 1985 when the U's went belly up.

Like I say - this is a discussion based on rumour and nothing else. The only thing that I know for 100% is that Mark Gardiner was reported by the Observer to be looking to dispose of the Hastings United name because I read it - and I'm sure lots of you guys did too.

Certainly be interested to see what the reaction to all of this might be. Post your views on our guestbook - let's see what YOU think. Speaking for myself - I'd be made up to see claret, blue and United again. But - what do you think????

SS

29/12/01 Burnham (0) 1 Hastings Town (2) 2

BOROUGH BLUES BANISHED @ BURNHAM

Flanagan 14, McArthur 40
Att: 136


Adam heads Town's first (Click to enlarge)

And in it goes for 2-0 (Click to enlarge)

The happy management team (Click to enlarge)

Macca steps up (Click to enlarge)

Much, much more like it. Town's promotion campaign up and running again with the great news in Burnham's clubhouse afterwards that Sittingbourne of all people had done us a big favour by winning 1-0 at Dorchester.

A single goal margin at "The Gore" - and believe me, the word gore sums up the place which is a DM League ground grading mystery all of it's own - did no justice to Town who were by far the better side and even when Burnham got a goal back, never really looked in danger of dropping points.

Town had already had three decent chances fall to Jonah, Adam and Tommy O inside the first 12 minutes which they completely dominated before they opened their account. Jonah broke into the box - typical Paul, that - held off a couple of defenders and saw his effort well parried by the keeper. The ball fell nicely to Yatesie who - to the disbelief of all - saw what looked like a certain goal denied by a Burnham defender who appeared from nowhere to clear Steve's effort off the line. Not so much a bad miss as bloody good defending.

Adam made up for that a matter of a minute later when he climbed unchallenged to power home a header from the resulting corner. Town continued to dominate and should really have already been two or three up (Jonah's effort curled just wide and George heading a corner over) before Macca gave the scoreline a more accurate reflection of proceedings with a very passable imitation of those long range free kicks Terry White used to treat us to. From way outside the area - just inside the touchline - he curled in his effort which slotted in under angle of bar and post to the delight of the Town contingent behind the goal.

After diving into the clubhouse to get warm for a few minutes - it was back into action as Town maintained their hold on the game. Could have been 3-0 on 54 minutes but what looked like a well placed header by Adam was ruled out by the referee for pushing. A few minutes later - Tommy O shot just wide as the temperature started to plummet. Burnham got back into the game with a near post header from a corner on 70 minutes. Town defended what the home side threw at them without too many problems, though. They might even have added to their own tally - Chris Honey saw a header from a corner fly over while Jonah had another good effort well saved by the keeper - virtually a carbon copy of his attempt in the first half.

Well played boys - and PLEASE - no more derby blues on New Years Day - especially as it's the Stains who provide the opposition at The Pilot Field. This result - coupled with others going our way - sees us still right in there and with fixtures at Dorchester and Grantham coming up quick (12 and 19 January), we need to keep that momentum going.

SS