Pilot field at start

Maybe next year?

Hastings United 2-3 Guernsey

Saturday 14 September 2013

United’s remarkable FA Cup run lasted just over 840 minutes last season. 90 minutes went by and United knocked out Ramsgate. Arguably United’s toughest opponents of the season came from over the channel to the Pilot Field.  With Guernsey, having beaten the top sides and lost to the lower sides, no one new what to expect. Guernsey star man, Ross Allen, starting for them, has scored more than he’s played. Will United maintain their winning streak in this season’s FA Cup, or fall at the second hurdle? HOT’s Liam Willis reports.

United started fairly positively to the first half, with Henson trying his luck from thirty-five yards, but without result. The first shot on goal came from Guernsey’s star man Ross Allen, however Josh Pelling made a comfortable save, when Allen should’ve perhaps done better. The first goal came just inside fifteen minutes, seemingly against United’s FA Cup script. United’s defence fell asleep and a sublime ball was played through to Allen who put it beyond keeper, Pelling.

The goal seemed to pump more and more confidence into the visitors, with another decent attack coming a few minutes after the first goal – Allen found himself on the edge of the penalty area and tried to curl a shot beyond Pelling, however Pelling was equal to the ball and gathered it safely.  United seemed to become complacent and kept giving away possession and came second to every loose ball – Guernsey however, were closing United down well. A dangerous cross from Bailo Camara was just about punched away by Tardif while Kenny Pogue was close to hand.

Guernsey regained possession, but that was brought to an abrupt halt by Danny Ellis who looked to have the same intent. A sublime ball through the middle set up Camara, who slotted the ball just inside of Tardif’s right hand side to put United on level terms. Many chances came within the remaining fifteen minutes of the half. Danny Ellis tried a shot in the penalty area, but was blocked. Guernsey’s Allen went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Richardson, but the referee waved away any protests from the Guernsey faithful.

It didn’t take long for Guernsey to have another chance of their own though – Loaring found the side netting and then Allen was tantalisingly close again from a scramble resulting from a corner. Guernsey regained the lead just before half time. United fell asleep again after a freekick was played to Allen who slotted past Josh Pelling.

United started slowly in the second half and neither team made any significant chances within the first twenty minutes of the half. Danny Ellis struck from just outside the penalty area, only to see the ball flash wide of Tardif’s right hand side. Heaume then unleashed a seemingly unexpected strike at Pelling’s goal. Pelling beaten, I think he was happy to watch the ball go just over the crossbar.

With fifteen to go, Jamie Crone replaced Kenny Pogue. Sam Adams managed to find an exquisite pass to Camara to release him through with only Tardif to beat, but Camara’s first time shot was well wide. Guernsey’s Loaring then had a moment of genius by himself and scoring would have just capped it off. A blistering run from the halfway line past a number of United midfielders and defenders presented him the opportunity of a shot on goal, but he could only fire at Pelling, who made a comfortable save. Bailo Camara was then replaced by Edusi.

United found themselves with the ball in the middle of the park, and out of nothing, Danny Ellis unleashed an incredible strike from thirty yards beyond Tardif to put United on level terms with five minutes to go. It seems that United would settle for a draw and a replay, however the game was far from over. Heaume came close from a deflected 30 yard shot but could only win a  corner, which was wasted.

Another chance for Guernsey was then wasted, and deep into the third minute of the four added on, a cross from Heaume went over the heads of a number of defenders, and what I can only describe out of sheer panic, Edusi threw his hand in the air at the ball and gave away a penalty. Edusi got a yellow card for his troubles as Allen completed his hattrick. Hastings 2-3 Guernsey with seconds to go. A freekick was awarded to United, just a few yards back from the ‘D’ with about ten seconds to go. Sam Adams struck and Tardif got down very well to his right to make a fine save. Guernsey cleared the ball and the referee blew for full time.

United are out of the FA Cup. Guernsey sail through to the second qualifying round. United’s FA Cup run this season lasted just over 120 minutes and no memorable away trip to a league side will come this season. Fair play to the Guernsey faithful – their away support was significant and provided more atmosphere to the Pilot Field. Probably just over 100 visitors made the journey across the channel and in one man’s case, down the M40 from Birmingham.

United starting XI: Pelling, Henson, Richardson, Darby, Judge, Kelly, Camara, Ellis, Pogue, Adams, Maclean. Subs: Crone, Olorunda, Edusei, Corrigan, Gilbert, Shonk, Burbridge.

Guernsey starting XI: Tardif, Isabelle, Dodd, Cochrane, Strawbridge, McGrath, Dyer, Zico-Black, Heaume, Allen, Loaring. Subs: Mackay, Hutton, Martin, Creed.

Man of the match, as nominated by Liam Willis: Bailo Camara      Attendance: 573

Liam P Willis is also Hastings United Programme Co-Editor

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