Archive
Dr Martens League Premier Division 2002-03
1/3/03 Hastings United (1) 1 Dover Athletic (1) 1
DE JA VU
Att: 630
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As mooted out of desperation more than anything else in a recent posting United have indeed put in some eminently decent performances against sides higher in the table of late - and after having weathered an intense opening spell of pressure from Dover and then taken the lead completely against the run of play on 15 minutes they were to give every bit as much as they got, in footballing terms, for the remaining 75 minutes of an absorbing game in which defences were generally in charge. Much like the Bath game a week ago. Sadly, though, the request for decent officiating in the preview to this game was not to be granted following an utterly inept performance by Mark John who's display was probably worse than that of his fellow clown, Valentino, who made such a cock up of the September meeting between the two sides at Crabble. Yes - some will read this and say it's just whinging and whining - but here are the bare facts of John's afternoon by the sea in which he failed to even to talk to Athletic keeper, Paul Hyde, about over enthusiastic use of studs on a grounded Joel Bevis's head as the two lay entangled on the deck, he failed to send Athletic's Andy Arnott off for a clear "last man on goal" foul on Chris Honey, nothing was awarded for an incident that saw Chris sprawled in the Athletic area with Lee Spillar virtually lying on top of him and amongst a string of incomprehensible decisions against United in the second half, he completed his performance by sending off Paul Ruddy after a 50/50 challenge involving Spillar who, having gone down clutching a shattered leg, duly recovered following Rudds's dismissal and then showed huge amusement when United supporters accused him of cheating. Granted - some people did think Rudds stamped on Spillar - but having looked at the video several times, there first of all seems little in the way of contact and secondly, that was a 50/50 ball that was there to be won and the way Spillar went in for the ball brought the incident on himself to a large extent - and the instant reaction of players and spectators that side of the pitch as John prepared to show Rudds his second yellow card following complete non intervention by the equally useless linesman said it all. John also booked Macca for a hard but ball winning and fair challenge on Nicky Dent - with the only decision he got right - and it has to be said a crucial one - being the waving away of a penalty claim when Paul Sykes went down under a challenge from Dave King who - video confirms it - had got a hand to the ball first. Ah - what about the football? Well - despite John's worst efforts - not a bad game at all as United again left supporters a tad baffled that despite playing as well as they did in this game, to an extent at Crawley, and playing equally well against Bath - they are still very much enmeshed in the battle to stay out of the basement and a swift return to the delights of Eastern Division clogball next season. This was a decent game in which United were completely outplayed in the initial stages but rallied to show they can play a bit too and at the end they could look back on a game in which they created the better chances. Dover went close as early as the 1st minute when Matt Carruthers fired a cross through the U's 6 yard box with nobody on hand to convert it. It was all Dover for the next 15 minutes or so as United hardly got out of their half other than a good break involving Steve Yates (good game, Yatesie) and Joel Bevis. The goal came out of the blue - a Yatesie cross was hit first time by Landry, Hyde couldn't hold onto it and Chris Honey slotted home inside the far post for his first home DMP goal of the season. Joel had two chances to add to United's lead as they pressed forward with confidence boosted big time by Monster's goal. A difficult one on one saw him lob Hyde but the effort was always well wide - but Hyde had to pull off a decent save to deny Joel a minute or two later - Joel should've done better and a minute later United were punished as what should've been 2-0 became 1-1 when they failed to clear their lines. A Paul Sykes cross was charged down - the ball rebounded back to him and he buried the chance to the delight of the large Athletic contingent. United continued to press for a second goal and a great piece of play by Landry saw his cross headed wide by a diving Danny Simmonds who was to see a longer range shot go similarly wide soon afterwards. In terms of goal mouth action - not a lot to be said about the second half as the defences and John's display dominated proceedings. Monster got a decent header in on a Yatesie cross early on but it was straight at Hyde. United left themselves open down their right flank as Tommy Tyne broke into their area but he scuffed his shot and the King saved reasonably comfortably. Macca replaced the inconsistent Bevis on 58 minutes and was soon in action but a 25 yarder was well wide of the mark. Loads of boos greeted the arrival of Athletic sub, N Dent, as United supporters let him know what they thought of that penalty at Crabble in September. Denty made no impact in the time he was on (that's not to say we wouldn't have him back here if he became available despite all those songs from the BBA about a certain part of his anatomy being "up for rent - up for rent"). Athletic had a spell of pressure in which one shot went over and another was deflected wide for a corner but the best chance was to fall to Stuart Playford - another great performance - when he got on the end of an 89th minute Yates cross only to see his header go over the bar. United's 10 men went off having put in a fine performance after that dodgy opening spell - things are looking up just a little of late (you can't say more than that till they start to find the winning habit again) and they've taken three points from three tough games in succession against three decent sides. And on Tuesday night they've got to do it all again as they undertake a trek and a half down to Bath for a swift return with City at Twerton Park. |
AS YOU WERE IN THE BASEMENT
Could've been worse - we could've dropped back into the basement again - but things didn't change a lot as the following scorelines show:-
- Cambridge City 1 - 1 Hinckley
- Chelmsford 2 - 0 Bath
- Folkestone 1 - 2 Stafford
- Havant & W 3 - 3 Grantham
- Ilkeston 1 - 3 Halesowen
- Weymouth 2 - 0 Newport County
BOTTOM EIGHT @ 5.00 pm 1 March
Havant & W 27 8 11 8 38-40 -2 35 Grantham 29 9 7 13 42-49 -7 34 Hinckley 31 6 15 10 45-49 -4 33 HUFC 29 8 9 12 33-38 -5 33 -------------------------------------------------------- Cambridge City 28 8 8 12 34-36 -2 32 Halesowen 29 7 8 14 31-44 -13 29 Folkestone 32 4 6 22 41-82 -41 18 Ilkeston 30 4 5 21 31-76 -45 17
Weymouth with two wins on the trot have shown how tight it all is by disappearing out of the bottom eight while Halesowen needed that win at Ilkeston in order to stay in touch with safety while the two below will now have to display championship winning form to get out of the mire.
United's game at Bath on Tuesday night will use up one of their games in hand on Hinckley. Oddly, only two midweek games next week, odd given all the postponements in the last couple of months. That game on Tuesday will also see us having played two more than Cambridge City which makes it all the more important to get a decent result - oh for a repeat of the 2-0 win there early in 98/99!
MINI BUS TO BATH
Few seats spare on a mini bus leaving from outside The Pilot Field at 3.00 pm Tuesday. The boys need our support!
FIXTURE CLASH
On a slightly more light hearted note - and don't we need that - Stains were at home to Stamford at the same time and it was so quiet up at Fort Fun that we wondered at half time if their game had been called off at the last minute. Well - they were in action after all - and as their game was still going on when we went up to the car park, a gathering of U's supporters peered in through a nice big gap in the Fort Fun fence and took in the last five minutes. A not very difficult calculation showed that there were quite likely more watching for f**k all from the car park than had paid to get in. Could this be a two figure attendance?
SS
4/3/03 Bath City (0) 1 Hastings United (0) 0
ALAMO REVISITED
Att: 536
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As depressing as it gets down in the West Country as another of one those Jekyll and Hyde performances saw United end up with nothing to show after a promising first 45 which Bath probably shaded - and a horrendous second period in which United were under seige and looked pitifully inadequate going forward such was the pressure exerted by City. The defence worked overtime in that second half - City weren't actually able to create very much in actual goal bound shots or chances but it was one way traffic for 90% of that period and just when the loyal 20 or so United supporters thought we might nick a point - and there would've been an element of theft about it - City struck in the 78th minute when a well struck shot arced diagonally across the area into the far corner. Devastating given there were just 12 minutes left - but hardly surprising. Things didn't exactly get off to a good start on the selection front with Messrs McArthur and Hegley unavailable due to flu - so Tommy O and Ellis Remy were in from the start and a thoroughly ineffective evening Ellis had too. Maybe he's still carrying that hamstring problem that's plagued him virtually all season - but in this game - or the hour or so of it he featured in before George decided enough was enough and took him off - he did virtually nothing and looked a raw 19 year old - which is, of course, what he is. Whatever - our squad's resources - as if you don't know this - have been paper thin all season due to the lack of beefing up that we've all known is crucial to any side stepping up - and losing two players of that calibre didn't help a bit. Of the four subs - only James Body who's been pretty consistent - was the only one to fill your correspondent with any confidence. Joel Bevis - jury's still out on him, Webbie - no more needs be said, and was it Glenn Mitchell our 4th sub? Can't remember now - but he's out of the reserves and was being asked to bridge the gap between Kent League Div 2 and DM Premier which is a massive ask - not that he came on - but the argument still bears weight! The gap in standard is a huge one. And like it says - United did ok in the first half and given a rub of the green which has largely been absent for around four months, now - they might even have gone in at half time a goal up. They had a very valid penalty appeal turned down on 10 minutes when a grounded City defender was seen to have both hands on the ball - concerted appeals to the linesman - who surely had a clear view of what happened - and referee went unanswered. Other incidents in the City area saw a Flanners effort from outside the box hit straight into the arms of the keeper, a Yatesie cross flew across the box with a City defender getting a deflection on it to see it out for a throw, City survived a big goal mouth scramble when the keeper dropped the ball, a Simmo corner caused the keeper problems at the angle of bar and post and with half time looming, Yatesie fired in a shot into the side netting. And things were going on at the other end at Twerton Park - one of those old fashioned football grounds where Bristol Rovers shared with City for several seasons. Quite how the place ever got a Football League grading is a mystery because it's seen better days - but the old place does have an appeal - especially the terraced end. Back to the game - United's defence had plenty to do in that first half but there was none of the seige mentality that must've been evident in what followed after the interval. King Dave had to get down well at the foot of a post to save on 19 minutes, a cross flew past the gaping goal with nobody on hand to knock it in, the City 4 fired a long range, swerving effort wide and their 9 should've done better with a header when unmarked - but he was way off target. 0-0 was just about right at half time - but that second half was something else as United found themselves imprisoned in their area with City attacking from all angles with Dave doing well to save a 67th minute effort he can only have seen very late. The United goal had already had a couple of escapes with Burty deflecting an effort over the bar with the resulting corner being headed just over. By the time City did take that late lead - United had created naff all in terms of attacking football - everytime that hard working defence cleared the ball it was with unerring accuracy straight to a City foot with the ball promptly hoofed back into our area where the whole scrambling process started all over again. Landry had one of those hot and cold evenings and it was just as well an offside flag saved him any embarrassment just after City had gone ahead when - as United actually found themselves in the opposing area - he blazed high and wide from an admittedly difficult angle. United weren't to create anything concrete attacking wise till the 89th minute when Joel Bevis saw a lobbed effort - or was it a cross - drop agonizingly wide of the far post. Shortly after that - the referee who'd given us absolutely sod all in that second half blew for time and a depressed bunch of us trooped out into the Twerton Park car park for a miserable 180 odd mile trek back to Hastings which we reached at 1.00 am. |
NOW WHAT?
Hastings Town - as they were then known - broke all kinds of records last season on their way to the Eastern Division championship - and the way things are going right now - United look intent on - er, breaking all kinds of records to secure a quick return to that grossly inferior brand of football. Well - that's unfair - of course they're not intent on that at all - but it's a fact that we have 12 games left to salvage this season which started off so well. We need - realistically - to win six of those games - and given that we've managed to win just one DMP game out of our last 16 - yes, SIXTEEN - can you see them managing that?
Everyone in football is defiant till the numbers say it can't be done - but with United's confidence levels dropping ever lower the longer the bad run goes on - no sign of new players to inject a different and better approach - players that we have got being played out of position - Heggers in his defensive role and Landry behind the strikers who - despite Monster's mini glut of goals - to name but two, even the most rabid U's supporters must be getting close to desperation wondering when this shite run of results (an all time low) will come to an end.
The lads desperately need a win to get things going again. Weymouth have just won two on the trot and - while only four points away from us - have disappeared out of the relegation zone. Yeah - things had improved a little of late - but no wins is still what it's all about and it's only wins that will do, it's only wins that will lift the guys and give their confidence levels that vital boost.
Don't give me any of that bollocks about not trying - well, certainly that applies to the vast, vast majority of them - they are working their bollocks off for the club - and no where is that better illustrated than by Stuart Playford who gives everything and has carried various injuries for much of the season with the removal of his appendix thrown in as a bonus. They all need the big boost that a haul of three points will give them and let's hope to Christ we get them on Saturday when Welling call in at The Pilot Field, no doubt brimming with confidence about extracting revenge for our 3-0 win at their place back in early September.
Anyway - back to the Bath result - we stay where we are - BUT Cambridge who are just a point behind us now have two games in hand while we just used up one of the two in hand we had on Hinckley who have the same number of points as us but a slightly better goal difference. I bet they both loved this result.
Bollocks to it - it's 2.20 am and I'm hitting the sack. See ya Saturday.
SS
8/3/03 Hastings United (0) 1 Welling (0) 4
RUB IT IN JONAH!
Att: 511
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How much longer can George Wakeling's confidence that United will avoid relegation hold water? This latest defeat that sees the U's drop back into the bottom four extends our horrendous sequence of results to one win in 17 DMP games - with one Paul Jones really rubbing our noses in The Pilot Field mud as he scored their first two goals. Excepting the January win at home to Grantham - the last time Pilot Field regulars were treated to a home win was on October - OCTOBER - the 5th when we beat Halesowen. While we're in the frame of mind for shite stats, the last clean sheet was on November 9th at Chippenham when we went home from Wiltshire 6th in the division. Numbers never lie - but they can mislead - and looking at the scoreline alone doesn't do United any justice at all for a very decent first half performance on a bog of a pitch which while never reaching Stainesque proportions (those who were here in February last year for the St Leonards game know what I mean), made good football very difficult for both sides. No Macca - presumably still flu ridden - and while Heggers was back in the side, United were to lose Adam Flanagan in the second half through injury. Glen Knight in the Welling goal made a couple of excellent saves in that opening 45 - and the one outstretched to his left to keep out a great, curling Remy effort was top drawer stuff with the second save just before half time to deny Steve Yates pretty good as well. Ellis Remy, incidentally, did more in the first 10 minutes than he did in the 60 odd minutes he played at Bath on Tuesday night. Welling - by contrast - hardly did anything in attacking terms in the first half. Jonah set Anthony Riviere up for their only substantial effort on goal but he hit his effort right at King Dave who saved comfortably. United had other chances to go in ahead at half time with the best falling to Stuart Playford who, latching onto a half cleared free kick, blazed over the crossbar when he really should've scored. Burty had a couple of decent headers from corners - one straight at Knight in the 2nd minute and a later effort over the bar. U's supporters took the interval as a chance to get out of the rain and were collectively shaking heads in disbelief that we weren't at least 2-0 ahead. Out of the blue Welling went 1-0 up on 55 minutes as the pitch got ever more difficult. A corner landed at the feet of Paul Jones who picked his spot inside the far post. All square on 67 minutes when Simmo's break into the box was brought to an illegal end and he got up and converted the resulting spot kick. But within two minutes the U's were 1-2 down when a good cross from the right found the unmarked Jones who fired home and it has to be said that Hastings heads seemed to go down visibly after that second blow and they were to create nothing when it came to going forward for the remaining 25 odd minutes. It all became unreal at the end of the game. Welling looked pretty comfortable holding onto what would've been a rather fortunate win given their first half largely on the back foot - but two more strikes in the last couple of minutes saw Wings supporters enjoying a late Christmas. A tremendous ball out of defence by Lew Watts as United pressed forward saw Paul Booth break clear from half way, round Dave and score the third from what looked a difficult angle. A classic "Catch em on the break" goal. And heads hadn't stopped shaking when penalty box ping pong saw the ball break to Riviere who made it 4-1 to the huge enjoyment of Welling supporters who had seen their side duly avenge United's 3-0 win at Park View Road in September. |
BACK INTO THE BASEMENT
As if Hinckley and Cambridge didn't enjoy Tuesday night's defeat enough - this one must've had those two in ecstasy. City drew 1-1 at Halesowen - a result that sees them go above us with two games in hand and a result that sees Halesowen close to within three points of us. Hinckley - who at one stage had played four games more than us - didn't play today as their pitch was waterlogged - and remain above us on goal difference having played the same number of games.
Our goal difference took a beating today and is now - 9. With the bottom half as tight as it is, that could be crucial and those two late goals today could, could, decide which division we play in next season.
SELF INFLICTED
Well it is isn't it? We've tried to make it through this season with a squad weaker than what got us up and wasn't that summed up when - late in the game - our third sub came on to a collective "Who?" from supporters who literally had no idea who he was. Phil Donaldson did tell me who it was - David Henham, I think he said - but just as we did at Bath on Tuesday - having subs who ply their trade in Kent League Div 2 is hardly going to have opposition sides quaking in their boots at DM Premier level. That is no dig at the lads concerned - none whatsoever - but this illustrates just how shallow our strength in depth is. Last season up at Corby - and carry on like this we'll be there again next season - we had the likes of Lee McRobert and Chris Honey on the bench!
It was all fine while that extended honeymoon lasted up till the Chelmsford FA Trophy game - but even then we knew that ours was a small squad - and IT STILL IS - and in this awful run we've been on for four months we've lost players for the usual reasons that afflict all clubs - and haven't been able to call on replacements who can hack it at DMP level.
Of course it's not just down to that - you keep coming back to that old jigsaw equation. Last season - our pieces all fitted together - we got the breaks, other results went our way, George went out and strengthened the squad with players like Landry Zahana-Oni, Lee McRobert, Nick Hegley and Martin Eldridge, confidence levels were high and it all just, plain, gelled into a side that played well and deservedly won promotion. And for all that - it was all going well this season - the results in those first 30 odd games say it all - but look at it since the beginning of November.
What is self inflicted - is the lack of new players. George says he won't get anybody in who isn't better than what he's got - but surely there are players out there who can do a job for us? Defensively we've done ok this season with the odd exception - today was just one of those days where it all went tits up - but up front we've stuttered badly and haven't scored more than two goals in a game since that other unreal night at Kettering - on 29 October!
Confidence levels will get lower the longer this seemingly interminable run goes on. Breaks are going against us on a consistent basis - Glen Knight might've pulled off two great saves today - but he got away with dropping the ball twice, and in a one on one with Ellis when the ball fell nicely for him whereas our dodgy moments in defence resulted in goals being conceded.
What we're putting up with is no different from what any side in our situation has to put up with - and I have to say that right now I can't see us getting things right. 11 games left of which we need to win six - and we've won one out of 17. We saw Dean White and Garry Wilson mastermind escapes from relegation in 93/94 and 96/97 - the latter season saw us pull clear comfortably after a run almost as bad as what we're in the middle of now - but given our dire playing resources and the lack of new players plus those other dislodged pieces of the jigsaw - yeah, I have doubts big time that we'll still be playing Premier Division football next August.
And next week it's off to fellow strugglees, Grantham who are on a run not much better than ours.
Tense? Better believe it!
FANZINE - "GHOST" ISSUE 34
Got off my arse and finally put together another fanzine which you can get from the club shop, the clubhouse or you can always email me at simon@ghostof.co.uk for one. And you can drop me a line at 93 The Ridge, Hastings, TN34 2AB - if you enclose a stamped addressed A5 envelope plus a quid then that'll be fine.
The fanzine is increasingly hard work and I have no idea when/if Issue 35 will be around. Time and motivation plus being the only one who generally writes it are the three main reasons.
SS
11/3/03
NON LEAGUE PAPER
I've just about had a noseful of the NLP. Not only do they come out with a ludicrous headline (100% meaningless bollocks) to front the match report I sent them for the Welling game, but, as usual they chop and change things in such a way as to end up with a report that doesn't really say what I wrote.
It only takes a word here and a word there - and for the NLP to say the scoreline had reached "embarrassing proportions" is not what I said - I used the word "unreal" to describe that last couple of minutes and I think that represents what went on rather more accurately. Even the most avid Welling supporter will agree with that, I'm sure.
This isn't the first time what I've written has been altered in such a misleading way and I'm bloody sure everybody who sends them match reports has the same trouble. I think we all accept that space constraints will on occasions need match reports to be thinned out a bit - but whoever does it doesn't seem to have a basic grasp of how to do this without ending up with something that doesn't resemble what was originally written.
I've emailed the NLP telling them if they bugger about like this anymore then they can find someone else to cover our games.
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
Interesting that yesterday saw Welling - landlords of Erith & Belvedere - playing at The Pilot Field while their tenants were up the road at Fort Fun. Only 52 spectators up there which confirms that a good half of what attendances the Stains get are HUFC supporters who can't follow us away.
SS
NEW WEBSITE
Another Hastings fan has taken the plunge into the world of the webmeister. Check out the links page for the address.
KH
13/3/03
COLLINS ARRIVES ON LOAN
Rob Collins has signed on loan from Horsham. Don't be put off by him coming from a division a standard lower (Ryman Div One South) - last season he scored quite a few for Crawley and he might just do the business for us. Another player could be on his way to us - but apparently he's got a trial with another club first. Collins will be in the squad at Grantham on Saturday.
14/3/03
WHAT?
Er - apparently plans are afoot to have a hitech, electro-digital scoreboard put up in time for next season.
All this will do is show up the untapped potential that is The Pilot Field - well, the uncovered side and wide, wide open Wood End at any rate. It is a waste of money and just what HUFC supporters - very wet supporters - at the Wood End thought of this idea on Saturday is probably not printable - even on a site like this where we're not afraid to say "Bollocks" on occasions. Having personally put a reasonable sum into the Wood End stand appeal not long ago I'm reasonably clear on what I think should be of a higher priority. I don't think a digital scoreboard appeal would get supporters over excited.
And given our current gravity fed direction back to the delights of the Eastern Division - this gimmick will look all the more outlandish when - sorry, should we find ourselves entertaining Fleet Town on a Tuesday evening. Is there anybody - ANYBODY - out there who has problems keeping up with the score?
SATURDAY
Well - what about football? It's an interesting game that lies ahead with United off to South Kesteven where Grantham await - our fellow promotees from last April who are only a couple of points better off than us and have a game in hand. Not so very long ago - they had a spell at the top of the division but now find themselves in a similar spiral like pattern of form to ours.
Rob Collins - as mentioned a day or so ago - will be in the squad and given our wretched position, horrendous scoring record - we haven't got more than two goals in a game since the FA Cup win at Kettering - and the relatively short amount of time to get things right - we need him to hit the ground running.
Saturday will be tough. We don't have a good record against Grantham even though things have improved against them of late. Who can forget the 0-10 aggregate of 2000/2001 followed by the 1-3 home defeat last season? But we deservedly drew 1-1 at their place in the return and I didn't think we were lucky to beat them at home back in January. They had lots of possession - THEY missed a penalty and a good chance on top of that - we put our chances away. So - with a bit of luck - and Christ knows we need some of that - things might go ok on Saturday.
No Yatesie or Rudds - both suspended. Macca'll hopefully be back, though - Heggers and Stuart Playford will be flu free all being well and with Collins in the side as well - fingers crossed that we get a decent result. I'm hoping I can make the game - problem is that I'm at work Saturday morning near Crawley but if I can get away at 12.00 (5 minutes from the M23, 15 from the M25) - then I'll make it providing the Motorways behave.
Whatever - fingers tightly crossed.
SS
15/3/03 Grantham (1) 2 Hastings United (0) 1
LONG TUNNEL - NO LIGHT
Att: 330
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United's execrable sequence of results goes on and on with this latest defeat at relegation rivals Grantham who won a game that was the mirror image of United's win over them back in January - in that the losing side would've undertaken a long journey home knowing their own bad finishing had let them down. And United's poor second half form in front of goal really did let them down big time with a questionable and crucial penalty thrown in to rub salt in a gaping wound. On the team front - Rob Collins went straight into the side, Macca was back after missing two games with flu and while - presumably - Messrs Playford and Hegley were ok again after their respective lots of flu, United started minus the suspended Yates and Ruddy. A strong gusty wind was to cause both keepers problems with Dave having some in the first half and Mario Ziccardi his share in the second 45. I wasn't able to make the game - having done an early shift it just didn't seem advisable to undertake a 350 odd mile round trip and I'd have been pushing it to make kick off anyway. So - thanks to Dave Moore for filming proceedings for me at short notice. Grantham made the early running with Dave having problems dealing with a free kick made twice as difficult by that wind on 10 minutes. 5 minutes later the King had to snatch at a header from the home 5 which was equally difficult. What was actually a poor Grantham corner somehow managed to cause problems in the U's area before the ball was hacked clear. United should've taken a 21st minute lead when Collins latched onto a through ball but from the edge of the area, he fired wide. What should've been 1-0 was then turned onto 0-1 two minutes later when poor defending gave the Grantham 9 the first goal of the game. They might've doubled their lead on 32 minutes but the 8 fired over. United's efforts other than Collins' shot wide were few and far between in the first half. A Hegley effort was well wide and late in the half Macca and Landry both had efforts charged down in a penalty area scramble. Chris Honey went down in the box in a heap but claims for a penalty were waved away. United really only have themselves to blame for not getting at least a draw from this game because by the time Grantham doubled their lead on 68 minutes with what looked a contentious penalty, they had spurned at least four decent chances with the creme de la creme being the Collins miss on 51 minutes when having latched onto a Dave King clearance, he did everything right - well almost everything - outpaced the defender, rounded the keeper and with an open goal in front of him planted the ball against a post from where the rebound was eventually cleared. Talk about glaring. The Grantham 9 then did well with a first time volley that wasn't far of the mark - but on 56 minues, Stuart Playford was close with a header from a Macca free kick. Landry had one of those days and wasn't that summed up by his appalling pass when with him breaking down the left with an unmarked Tommy O easy to pick out - he scuffed his layoff straight to a home defender who can't have believed his luck as he belted the ball clear. The move of the game came on 60 minutes when Heggers doing what he does best - and what he should be allowed to concentrate on - flighted in a superb cross that Landry headed against the crossbar. Some of the U's contingent thought it had crossed the line a la 1966 but the video was inconclusive. Another Collins effort saw Ziccardi down to his right to hold onto an on target effort. How United were punished for those spurned opportunities on 68 minutes. A throw in seemed to have been comfortably caught by King Dave but the referee blew for a penalty indicating a push. Several looks at the video show very little in the way of appeals by the home side - they show a cluster of players going for the ball with Dave catching it cleanly - and a bewildered Dave asking the referee what it was all about. Whatever - the spot kick was converted and yet again - United had a mountain to climb. Ziccardi in the home goal had his share of problems with the wind and did superbly to deal with a hanging Macca corner that might have drifted in under the crossbar - but Ziccardi tipped it over for another corner which was almost as difficult to deal with but United enjoyed a rare moment of good fortune when the poorly cleared ball landed at Joel Bevis's feet and his seemingly half hit effort went through a forest of legs and over the line to give United hope of getting something. That was after 77 minutes and while Grantham might've added to their score as the U's pressed - another questionable decision late in the game saw an offside flag prevent Landry running onto his own flick which would've seen him clear on goal - but Ellis Remy who didn't seem to be interfering with play had the flag waved against him and with that decision went United's last chance of salvaging a point from a game they knew they had to win. |
CONFIDENCE LEVELS DOWN ANOTHER NOTCH?
Well - they have to be. United might've played some decent football in the second half of this game - and they created all those chances - but points are what will do the lads the world of good and points are what we desperately need with this latest reversal seeing us overtaken by Halesowen who followed their midweek win at Dover by going to Chippenham (who'd only lost three games all season) and winning 2-1.
Everybody around us picked up something - even Folkestone did with a 4-1 drubbing of Hednesford. Hinckley went to Welling and won 2-1, this is the Hinckley side who were a good few points adrift of us not so very long ago - AND had played four games more. Such is United's plummet down the league that Hinckley are now three points ahead of us on the same number of games - as are Halesowen.
Those jigsaw pieces just won't fit together for us - just look at all those other results this weekend - and with just 10 games left we really do look like dropping out of this division after all that hard graft to get back into it last season. Perhaps we should get some encouragement from creating chances the way we have been - but having made a good eight scoring opportunities in successive games - but only put two away - it all ends up having the opposite effect on and off the pitch when so little return materialises.
I'm the world's biggest pessimist when it comes to following my lot - and right now I just can't see us getting out of this for reasons that have already been looked at. It's the self inflicted side of it - allowing ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of security and not getting new players in - that gets me more than anything. Instead of getting new blood in with 11 games to go - we should've gotten some in before we'd played 11 games. Rob Collins does look a useful player - but he'll be remembered for a hat trick of misses - one glaring, one bad and another that brought a decent save out of Mario Ziccardi.
To think we were 6th after that draw at Chippenham in November. Talk about tits up. Still - we have Sussex derbies against the Burgess Hillbillies to look forward to next season....................
Last chance saloon beckons boys!
ARROW FM - SPORTS COVERAGE (SPLUTTER, GAG, CHOKE)
Can't make it to Grantham - so it's turn on the radio and listen to Arrow FM'S comprehensive coverage of the rapidly declining fortunes of the town's two semi pro football teams.
Well - I put up with it till around 4.15. All I knew at that point was that we were 0-1 down as were the Stains who were at home to Dartford. All Arrow seemed interested in was Charlton's game against Newcastle. Charlton aren't even in the same bleedin county as Hastings and given that there's detailed coverage elsewhere on Premiership matters, you really would think what purports to be a local radio station would concentrate on local football and refer in passing to other things - such as Charlton against Newcastle. You would also think that if Arrow FM are worth a toss they'd know that we are in a big relegation scrap - and yes, as Stains were the home side of the town's two teams, you think Arrow would've been in regular touch with Fort Fun as well.
Granted - Roger Sinden who normally does a fine job of looking after Arrow and Southern Counties on Saturday afternoons wasn't at the game - and matters weren't helped by his sub when he's not available - er, that's me - not being at South Kesteven either. But a local radio station worth it's salt should surely make an effort to provide decent coverage of it's local teams - and they certainly didn't. To call what is basically a music programme, with the odd Premiership bits'n pieces from The Valley with virtually nothing on us or the Stains, a sports programme is a bloody joke.
Anyway, I gave up at around 4.15 - no half time report on either game - and transferred to Southern Counties Radio and even they didn't give out anything worth listening to. At least they had an excuse as they were covering Brighton who were at Withdean taking on Nottingham Forest. I don't know if either station made an effort to find out what was going on at the two games in question - but if they did and had had no luck because Roger and I weren't available - they certainly didn't say so while I was listening.
What little hair I have was missing a bit more by the time Ceefax eventually gave me the bad news I didn't want to hear. Southern Counties Radio managed to give out virtually every result except ours after the Brighton game finished by the way......
Arrow FM? FM = Feeble Media.
SS
Apologies
Sorry about the late update without warning. I was innocently wandering past the pub, and er was dragged in and forced to drinks of an alcoholic nature, against my will of course...
KH
22/3/03
SATURDAY PREVIEW
Newport County will be here on Saturday for what is yet another must win game for HUFC. We took a point from a 1-1 draw at their place around a month ago and given the little bit of luck that's been notably absent for so long, might even have won that game after a good second half display.
Perhaps we did get some rub of the green on Tuesday when the three games that were played all came up witrh results favourable to us. Newport helped our cause out big time by winning 2-1 at Halesowen, Moor Green did the same by winning 2-1 at Cambridge City and the 0-0 draw between Hinckley and Grantham was the right result from that game.
Bottom eight after Tuesday's games:-
15 Grantham Town 32 39 (home to Hednesford on Saturday) 16 Weymouth 32 39 (away to Ilkeston) 17 Cambridge City 32 37 (no game!) 18 Hinckley United 33 37 (away to Folkestone) ------------------------------ 19 Halesowen Town 33 36 (home to Bath) 20 Hastings United 32 33 21 Folkestone Inv 34 21 22 Ilkeston Town 32 19
Someone - sometime is going to pay big time for the bad run we've endured for so long. I've been going to The Pilot Field for nearly 27 years and have never known such an extended run of misery - one win in 22 games, winless in our last 11 - but yet the side hasn't put out anything like the bad performances you'd expect from stats like that. Of course - you can look back at Eastbourne in the FA Trophy, second half non performances at Hinckley and Ilkeston - but what about that first hour against Welling, the Dover performance, at home to Bath - the first half at Bath and the chances created at Grantham. If things can slot into place as they have to for 90 minutes and we get a good result, the confidence levels will get that boost they need - and confidence is as essential an ingredient as any.
We need to do ourselves a favour by beating Newport (instead of relying on results elsewhere) - and at least another four sets of opponents before the first week in May. As disappointing as the result at Grantham was last Saturday - Rob Collins for all his misses did look a different class up front to what we've become used to this season. Monster has worked hard and in recent weeks has broken his duck at last - but it's a fact that Collins in one game had more shots on goal than Monster has had in several weeks - and that's what we've needed all season. Just convert those chances - the fact that only two clubs have scored less goals than us this season says it all - defensively we compare ok to the rest of the division - the problem is glaringly obvious as it was six months ago.
Player wise - George is still hoping to get that young lad in from Wimbledon and I think he was looking at someone else as well earlier this week. Yatesie makes a welcome return after a one game ban but Rudds is out for another two.
YOU WHAT!
Er - apparently plans are afoot to have a hitech, electro-digital scoreboard put up in time for next season.
All this will do is show up the untapped potential that is The Pilot Field - well, the uncovered side and wide, wide open Wood End at any rate. It is a waste of money and just what HUFC supporters - very wet supporters - at the Wood End thought of this idea a couple of weeks ago is probably not printable - even on a site like this where we're not afraid to say "Bollocks" on occasions. Having personally put a reasonable sum into the Wood End stand appeal not long ago I'm reasonably clear on what I think should be of a higher priority. I don't think a digital scoreboard funds appeal would get supporters over excited. Items like this are things that should come after rather more important ground enhancements such as cover for supporters - not before.
Messrs Maplesden and Pilbeam have put Christ knows how much into the club this last four years or so - it's their club after all - and if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have a club to follow. Those attempts to close it down in 99 were very close to success - but supporters who also play a big part in the club's finances by what they put in once a fortnight etc etc won't be overly keen on this gizmo given the rather more important things that need doing to The Pilot Field. The mutterings on the official site's forum would appear to confirm that.
And given our current gravity fed direction back to the delights of the Eastern Division - this gimmick will look all the more outlandish when - sorry, should we find ourselves entertaining Fleet Town on a Tuesday evening. Is there anybody - ANYBODY - out there who has problems keeping up with the score?
SS
22/3/03 Hastings United (0) 1 Newport County (1) 3
NO JUSTICE IS THERE?
Att: 390
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Very rarely do you see teams play outstanding football for 90 minutes - usually they produce such spells for far shorter periods and often, that's enough to decide how a game will go. Unless, that is, you're struggling in the bottom four, haven't won in 11 games, have only won once in 22 and haven't managed a clean sheet in those 22 either. Guess what happened in this one, then. A completely forgettable first hour saw two average sides struggle to produce anything vaguely resemble decent football on a bumpy pitch. United were without the suspended Paul Ruddy and Danny Simmonds started with a dodgy knee. No George Wakeling to supervise matters either - he was in hospital having kidney stones removed so Mike Flanagan took charge from the side line. Yeah - that first hour was truly turgid with United unable to display any urgency which seemed odd given their plight at the wrong end of the table. Newport certainly looked quite happy to sit back and cope with whatever was chucked at them but, er, nothing was chucked at them worth scribbling about. The first real penalty box action didn't come till the 32nd minute when Rob Collins latched onto a bouncing ball, turned a defender and with just the keeper to beat saw his shot well saved on the edge of the 6 yard box. How United were to rue that - easy to call it a miss, but the keeper did a good job - as a matter of minutes later as they defended a corner after Stuart Playford had deflected a shot out, Dave King who's been catching corners and crosses all season couldn't get to the ball (a la Welling) and the Newport 7 picked his spot. With Dave having been punished for a rare slip up, the Newport keeper got away with the first of several fumbles a minute or two later when he couldn't catch Macca's free kick with the ball being cleared before Collins could react. United were disjointed in that first half and their best effort on goal was a Macca corner that landed on top of the crossbar - that corner having come from a Simmo volley that was deflected over the bar. Otherwise it was forgettable - and Newport went in 1-0 up. Initially - the second half was as bad as the first. Adam Flanagan saw a header go wide from a free kick but other than that it was a horrendous game with tension mounting. And it was Macca who brought proceedings to life out of nowhere with what could well be the goal of the season and a rare highlight in this last five months of gloom. He cut in diagonally from the left - beat three defenders and then turned on a sixpence to chip the keeper with an effort that went in off the bottom of the crossbar. I try to be restrained while filming games but bollocks to it - "Fucking great goal!" I shouted - and it was. There can be little doubt that had this game been played back in the honeymoon period when DM Premier football looked not so difficult after all - or last season when everything gelled - United would have gone on to win the game. Newport were played off the park for the next 20 minutes or so as United - confidence visibly lifted - took them apart but - oh, so crucially - couldn't make that vital breakthrough. Nick Hegley might've had two goals on another day - a header was kept out by an outstretched left keeper's foot and a shot was deflected over for a corner. A clever Macca free kick was booted out at the near post, Steve Yates shot wide and Landry saw a shot blocked at the foot of a post. Thrown in for good measure were a couple of mis-handles by the Newport keeper who on each occasion saw his defenders on hand to clear up for him. Dave - in contrast - had been a spectator when the game turned cruelly against United on 78 minutes. A long ball wasn't snapped up by Adam Flanagan and the next minute saw the Newport 10 breaking into the area with the onrushing Dave coming out and bringing him down. Penalty! And duly converted it was to give Newport a lead they hardly deserved. Inevitably - after a big blow like that - United's heads went down. Collins and Zahana-Oni were subbed by Honey and Remy but it was all huff and puff and it assumed Welling like proportions on 88 minutes when Newport went 3-1 up as United left themselves exposed at the back for the 10 to go clear and set up the 7 for a straightforward goal. Still time for Simmo to see a deflected shot bounce off the crossbar as United's awful run was extended by another game. That third Newport goal saw spectators in an inevitably poor gate make early exits and who can blame them. The season continues to fall apart at the seams and if things carry on like this we'll be overtaken by Folkestone and Ilkeston who both won. You can't help but contrast the fortunes of the two keepers in this game - Dave made two mistakes and that cost us two goals - the Newport keeper mis-handled at least three times and got away with it - he was also the busier by far of the two - yet he's trundling back to South Wales - as I beat shit out my keyboard - with three points. Yeah - like the headline says - no justice. |
OTHER RESULTS - COULD'VE BEEN WORSE
Any club in our situation is hugely dependent on other results and it has to be said that if anything can be salvaged from yet another bitterly disappointing afternoon, Folkestone stuffing Hinckley, Halesowen's draw with Bath and Weymouth losing at Ilkeston do offer us glimmers of hope. The numbers tell you that the season is still eminently saveable, and it is - but the despondency that has to have afflicted all but the most optimistic at The Pilot Field also tells you that we still show no sign of getting out of an atrocious sequence of results which is the worst in living memory for most United supporters. All in such utter contrast to this time a year ago.
Here are the afternoon's results with the interesting ones highlighted.
- Cambridge City 3 v 0 Crawley Town
- Chelmsford City 2 v 2 Welling United
- Folkestone Invicta 4 v 0 Hinckley United
- Grantham Town 3 v 0 Hednesford Town
- Halesowen Town 1 v 1 Bath City
- Hastings United 1 v 3 Newport County
- Havant & W 2 v 1 Worcester City
- Ilkeston Town 3 v 1 Weymouth
- Moor Green 1 v 0 Chippenham Town
- Tamworth 1 v 2 Dover Athletic
- Tiverton Town 2 v 1 Stafford Rangers
Bottom eight @ 5.00 pm Saturday
15 Hednesford Town 33 41 16 Cambridge City 33 40 17 Weymouth 33 39 18 Hinckley United 34 37 -------------------------------- 19 Halesowen Town 34 37 20 Hastings United 33 33 21 Folkestone Inv 35 24 22 Ilkeston Town 33 22
Next Saturday sees us off to Stafford Rangers who - despite being unable to take advantage of a rare Tamworth defeat this afternoon - will be odds on favourites to extend our horrendous run. We are still in with a shout - the division is tight and look at Hednesford who've now dropped to within four points of the basement.
You have to cling to any hope in a situation like ours - but the bad run has gone on for so bloody long that there just doesn't seem to be anything we can do about it. All the pieces of that jigsaw that have to fit together - well, we've lost them altogether right now - let alone have em lying there in a muddle.
RUMOURS - RUMOURS
What would a relegation battling season be without rumours about where players will be come next August? And the chit chat engine is whirring away nicely with talk of Flanners going to Hornchurch next season (a lot closer to home for him), Landry going back to France, Tony Burt and Stuart Playford going to Bumpkinship Division One bound Rye & Iden United and Simmo and Mylie going to Eastbourne Borough as they take our place in the Premier Division.
I don't know about that. The last four named have over 1000 games between them for Hastings Town and United - I just don't see it. Ah - bollocks to it - we'll all know come August.
SEMI PRO RESTRUCTURING
Text message received while shopping in Safewways from my old railway mate Jim - now esconced up North (hiya, mate, if you read this) - saying the game will be restructured in 2004/5 with Conference Divisions North and South feeding into the current Conference division. And feeding into those two new Conference divisions will be four more divisions - North, Midlands, South East and South West. Now should that be so - and on Saturday evening I couldn't find anything on the NLP website and nobody at the club knew anything about it - then common sense will have raised it's head at long last.
The fanzine has certainly advocated such a set up - it's far more structured than the shambles we have at present - top two from the four regional divisions promoted - North and Midlands to Conference North (that division relegates four as does Conference South) with the top two from South East and South West going into Conference South.
But - BUT - as Tony Cosens pointed out at the club this afternoon - it all has to be ratified by the three leagues that currently feed into the Conference. And despite the huge vote in favour of the Conference proposals by THE CLUBS - don't be surprised if at least one of the league committees comes out against.
SS
27/3/03
RUB IT IN
Martin Whybrow's excellent Pyramid Football report on the Newport game does just that. He had a nice side view of the penalty incident that turned the match and describes it as a blatant dive by Garry Shephard which left Newport supporters who he was adjacent to as "embarrassed".
I was down the other end with the camera and didn't pick that up. Sorry to Dave for putting that one down to him, then. And as for you - Shephard - you cheating tosser, we just really need to come across your type right now.
MIDWEEK DM PREMIER RESULTS
We are now in the situation - as if you needed telling, specialist subject "The bleedin' obvious" etc, etc, etc - where we have to do the business ourselves and rely heavily on results elsewhere going our way. Things haven't gone too well so far as this week's games are concerned though the Halesowen result at Worcester didn't do us any harm while Crawley might've inadvertently helped us out by stuffing Grantham 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Here are the midweek results and the bottom eight of the table as it now stands.
Monday 24 March
- Dover Athletic 0 v 0 Tiverton Town
- Worcester City 1 v 1 Halesowen Town
Tuesday 25 March
- Grantham Town 0 v 3 Crawley Town
- Havant & Waterlooville 0 v 2 Cambridge City
- Weymouth 2 v 0 Bath City
15 Weymouth 34 42 16 Welling United 33 41 17 Hednesford Town 33 41 18 Halesowen Town 35 38 -------------------------------- 19 Hinckley United 34 37 20 Hastings United 33 33 21 Folkestone Invicta 35 24 22 Ilkeston Town 33 22
We've already been in in the situation where games in hand have been wasted - we had four in hand on Hinckley at one stage AND were ahead of them - so, given our situation at present with confidence levels low and plain old fashioned luck out of fashion - it's difficult to look at those games in hand as being of much use. And with Saturday seeing us off to second placed Stafford - the weekend's prospects aren't too rosy either.
Other fixtures of great relevance to us on Saturday:-
- Chippenham v Cambridge
- Dover v Grantham
- Hednesford v Tamworth
- Hinckley v Chelmsford
- Tiverton v Halesowen
- Worcester v Weymouth
Now then - just say we spring a shock at Stafford, Tiverton and Chelmsford help us out and we then beat FA Trophy semi final obsessed Havant next Tuesday night....................
NEW SIGNING
The lad from Wimbledon has signed - Tuesday evening I believe. If - name wise - you think Zahana-Oni's difficult then how about Ahmet Suleymanoglu? He's 19 and has been at Wimbledon two or three years. Presumably he knows Ellis - here's hoping he's a rather more consistent performer and that - with nine games to go - he hits the ground running. Lot to ask - 19 years old and needed to make an immediate impact in a DM Premier relegation scrap?
Whatever - hope things work out for you, mate. If they do - then they'll have worked out for us too.
SS
29/3/03 Stafford Rangers (1) 1 Hastings United (0) 1
LE FIRST TOUCH!
Att: 964
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With the hardy 15 or so United supporters resigned to what looked like a fifth successive defeat and another big shove towards Eastern Division clogball - up popped Danny Simmonds to fire home a late, late equaliser after being set up by a brilliant first touch from Joel Bevis who'd been on the pitch a matter of one minute. And his first touch it was too as Joel flicked on a Flanners pass to Simmo who - with two defenders trying to close him down - picked his spot from the edge of the box and shot past Ryan Price. United had started off pretty well on this their second longest haul of the season (446 miles added to my mileage when I got home at 8.15) and were the better side for the opening 10 minutes or so. A good move started off by Landry Zahana-Oni saw Nick Hegley set Ellis Remy up in the first minute but the ball came to Ellis at a difficult angle and the home defence cleared comfortably. Duncan McArthur then put Landry away but the keeper was quick off his line to snap up the ball. Rangers then started to show why they're second in the league and King Dave had to be alert to get to the ball before the onrushing Dennis Bailey - he of the QPR hat trick at Old Trafford many years ago. But while Bailey might have all the background and pedigree - it was the Rangers 11, Robin Gibson, who was to steal the eye throughout the game. Released by Wrexham when the ITV Digital balloon burst, he really was a handful and on 11 minutes he was set up by Bailey only to fire over the bar. Rob Collins is certainly getting plenty of chances and he might've done better when chasing Landry's lobbed through ball he opted to head instead of control and shoot from the edge of the area. The header lacked power and direction and a couple of minutes later United were 0-1 down. Good move down the left - the Rangers 3 hoisted a cross into the area and Bailey outjumped Nick Hegley to send a slow motion like header past Dave into the corner. Dave might've gone for the ball himself but seemed indecisive and found himself powerless to keep out the header - it really looked a soft goal. United could have been level soon afterwards when a cross from Collins to the far post foxed the home defence but - frustratingly - was just out of reach of Ellis and just too far for Simmo who couldn't get any direction or power on his header. United didn't threaten very much after that - a Macca free kick was dealt with comfortably (two others in promising places were blatantly wasted) while Nick failed to make anything out of a decent Steve Yates cross. At the other end, United's defence had plenty to do. Dave was quick off his line to foil the home 10, he was beaten by a good curling shot from the 6 which hit the outside of a post and then did well to get down to save a shot from Bailey. The second half was frankly a bore. Rangers looked in control but couldn't add to their tally while the longer it went on, the less likely United looked to get anything. Landry put a good pass in for Nick on the left flank but it was a tad over hit and Nick couldn't deliver a decent cross. Macca put in a long range effort that didn't cause any problems while Rangers best efforts saw a cross fly through the area with nobody on hand to convert, the home 3 went on a run which finished with a shot well wide, Gibson fired in a bullet like effort straight at Dave who had to get down sharpish late on to save another shot. The longer it went on the more unlikely Rangers looked to add to the score and their supporters started to whinge - but so were we at the other end, mostly at what appeared inactivity on George's part to change things. Ahmet Suleymanoglu eventually came on after 65 minutes and didn't do a lot apart from a dodgy looking high footed challenge on the home 5 that deserved at least a yellow card. The referee decided a chat was enough which was spot on actually because the Rangers 10 had done exactly the same to Flanners in the first half and had also gotten away with a talking to. And getting back to the football - 87 minutes on the clock, Joel replaced Rob Collins and within a minute had set Simmo up for a goal which might, MIGHT, just have a big impact on our season as United left Marston Road with a point that few people would've predicted they'd get. Let's hope they can carry the boost of Simmo's late goal on to Tuesday night's vital game at home to Havant. |
OBSERVATIONS
So - George apparently signed Suleymanoglu on the strength of watching him once which probably sums up our position which is still pretty desperate even after getting something at Stafford. He'd toyed with the idea of starting with Ahmet but went for Ellis and Rob up front - and that didn't work at all. Ellis - as stated on many occasions - isn't the kind of player we either needed at the start of the season as we adapted to Premier Division football OR (even more so) the kind of player we need to get us out of a relegation situation. That's not knocking the kid - he can be very talented on his day but we need consistency up front and it's asking too much of a 19 year old to do that at this level. His head seems to go down quickly when things don't go right which hardly helps.
Rob will surely score soon. He's had enough chances in his three games to date - three at Grantham, one at home to Newport and one at Stafford. It's just typical of a side in our dire straits that such chances aren't being converted - you can be sure they would've been four or five months ago when things were gelling nicely. Is Landry the kind of player to get us out of a relegation spot? I have my doubts. He strikes me as the type who flourishes in a side that's on a roll and the longer our bad run goes on, the more reinforced that opinion becomes.
TACTICS
George's tactics were interesting on Saturday - albeit late in the game when it came to using subs. He took Macca off (and Duncan didn't look overly pleased at that) and replaced him with Tommy O who took Heggers' place thus leaving Nick free to concentrate on what he does best - go forward from midfield. Ellis had been already replaced by Ahmet with 25 to go (we couldn't understand why George left it that late cos Ellis had been ineffectual for a good 45 minutes). As for Joel replacing Rob on 87 minutes - er, spot on George.
Looking forward to Tuesday when we absolutely must beat Havant - how about Tommy O at left wing back and the new lad up front with Collins - Heggers in midfield and Landry and Ellis on the bench? Tommy is a better defender than Nick, Nick can be an outstanding attacking player and we need someone to create chances. Ahmet? Well - we've got him - get him out there and see what he can do and if things don't work out then get either Joel or Landry on. Or try Joel from the start with Collins.
Leave Macca alone to hopefully concentrate on his football - we need Macca in midfield doing just that and I was surprised George replaced him on Saturday. On his day he's our best player and given our situation, we need him in there - preferably without the "extras".
BY THE WAY
Just a couple of things - they call it the Southern League - and not too far from Stafford I saw a sign that told me Manchester was just 59 miles away..........
Mike Flanagan was sent off on Saturday when a linesman took exception to Mike's reasonable observations about the challenge on son Adam, from the Rangers 10, that might've have prevented Mike from becoming a grandfather. All the red card resulted in was Mike watching the game from behind the perimeter fence - about two feet away from where he'd been in the first place.
No doubt, the Rangers supporters who laughed their bollocks off at the red card were the first to whinge at the referee for doing nothing about the Suyemanoglu challenge later in the game on their centre half.
Tamworth were grateful for us holding Stafford - my fanzine oppo Ginger phoned home Saturday evening to pass on his thanks. No probs Ginge - though I think you guys have got the league wrapped up now. A Stafford supporter told us that anything up to 400 of them could be down to Hastings on May 3rd for what could be a title deciding game - er, yeah right , I don't think so.
Laughs all round listening to the Stafford PA announcer getting round Ahmet's name when he replaced Ellis.
And big cheers for Simmo's goal from Chailey School who were up in that neck of the woods for a football competition and took in United's game while they were in the area. Simmo teaches at Chailey - and they all thought his goal was pretty cool stuff.
OTHER RESULTS ETC
- Bath City 1 v 1 Ilkeston Town
- Chippenham Town 2 v 0 Cambridge City
- Dover Athletic 2 v 1 Grantham Town
- Hednesford Town 0 v 1 Tamworth
- Hinckley United 2 v 1 Chelmsford City
- Moor Green 3 v 0 Folkestone Invicta
- Tiverton Town 4 v 2 Halesowen Town
- Worcester City 3 v 1 Weymouth
BOTTOM EIGHT @ 5.00 pm Saturday (Welling playing Sunday)
15 Weymouth 35 42 16 Welling United 33 41 17 Hednesford Town 34 41 18 Hinckley United 35 40 -------------------------------- 19 Halesowen Town 36 38 20 Hastings United 34 34 21 Folkestone Invicta 36 24 22 Ilkeston Town 34 23
Hinckley beating Chelmsford did our prospects no good at all and a six point gap with eight games left is a big one - even more so for a side that's won once in 24 games, hasn't won in 13 and probably needs to win five of those eight games. But a point at Stafford has to be a bonus and we are still very much in there even though the general consensus on Saturday was that Eastern Division football is highly likely next season.
If we can just get a few breaks on Tuesday night, if we can turn chances into goals, if Havant are pre-occupied with their pending FA Trophy semi final with Tamworth, if things can go our bloody way for a change - then who knows what might be. Moor Green are at The Pilot Field on Saturday and if that comes after three points on Tuesday then we'll be still in there.
SS