A game of two halves

Hastings United 3-1 Ramsgate

Monday 26 August

United’s second game in three days came at the start of a double bill against Ramsgate. After coming from behind to win on Saturday at Hythe, thanks to two goals from Kenny Pogue, United still remain unbeaten this season, as do Crawley Down, Gatwick and Leatherhead. United are also without Andy Henson after a knock at Hythe, so Tom Gilbert fills in at left-back. Can United keep the unbeaten streak going? HOT’s Liam Willis reports.

United came very close to a second minute goal, thanks to a superb ball from Ben Judge across to Kenny Pogue who found Jordan Woodley in space. Woodley’s shot was saved well by Hawkes, who got down well to palm it away for a corner. The corner was taken from Sam Adams and seemed to cause a scrap in the penalty area where a number of payers tried a shot, however the ball got the better of the players and trickled away to favour  Ramsgate.

Ramsgate piled on the pressure as the game went on and suddenly Miller found himself in space in the middle of the park and tried a shot from twenty-five yards which went just wide of Pelling’s right hand side. Ramsgate continued to pressure United for the ball and forced United to give the ball away on several occasions. When United did gain possession and push the ball forward, there were no attackers to finish the move off clinically and Ramsgate moved the ball back towards the United half.

Hastings continued to get weaker as the half went on – giving the ball away. General sloppy play gave Ramsgate the opportunity to attack United. 19 year old Tom Chapman had a couple of particularly good chances for the Rams. The first came after a blistering run down the right hand side and a shot after cutting inside rolled inches wide of Pelling’s left hand side.

The next attack was a United one; from the goal kick, Jordan Woodley worked a wonderful opening after a run down the right and cutting inside, but he squandered the opportunity by passing straight to Robinson to clear. The clearance was spread back out to Tom Chapman who sped past Jono Richardson and crossed in – any touch could have put the Rams in front but the ball trickled inches wide.

It didn’t take long for Chapman to produce another one of his runs, but this time past Jordan Woodley, who then conceded a penalty two minutes before half time. 26 year old attacking midfielder James Everitt stepped up to take the penalty which gave the Rams a well deserved lead, after sending Pelling the wrong way.

That wasn’t the last action from the half though – United nearly got an instant reply, thanks to offender Jordan Woodley. A crisp volley from the ‘D’ of the penalty area forced Hawkes into a brilliant reflex save for a corner, which was wasted. United went in at half time on the back-foot and in need of a stroke of luck, whereas the Rams went in scratching their heads over how they weren’t more goals to the good.

The second half began with a substitution with Matt McLean replacing Jordan Woodley for the U’s. As play progressed, it seemed that United had started the second half the same way they’d finished the first. Desperate defending from United prevented any more goals for the Rams. United did have an opportunity on the counter attack. A run from Kenny Pogue on the left hand side found Danny Ellis who flicked the ball up to Jamie Crone only to head it over the top – he should have done better.

As the game went on, it appeared that United had to contend with eleven men and a referee; Antony Forster seemed to give Ramsgate the majority of the decisions and ignore any appeals from United. United however, managed to equalise against the run of play. Richardson’s cross was not dealt with by goalkeeper Hawkes and the loose ball found it’s way to Matt Darby, who calmly put the ball into an empty net on the seventy-first minute. United’s equaliser seemed to give them a confidence boost, in front of their new manager, John Maggs.

Another cross from Sam Adams was aimed for Jamie Crone who failed to connect at the far post. Five minutes later, United took the lead. Danny Ellis lifted the ball towards Richardson, whose header was saved, but palmed right into the path of Matt MacLean, who put United ahead. Jamie Crone was replaced by Tim Olorunda and United continued to attack and look much more confident going forward.

United doubled their lead on eighty-three minutes when Matt Darby made a blistering run down the centre, before slotting in an immaculate through ball to Kenny Pogue to fire into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Three goals for United in twelve minutes had turned the game around for United, and after Corrigan replaced Gilbert, Danny Ellis ran down the right towards goal, before sending a shot high into the air instead of squaring it across to the unmarked Kenny Pogue.

The last attack from Ramsgate came deep into three minutes of injury time. Chapman worked an opening for himself but shot straight at Josh Pelling. From the resulting kick from Pelling, Adams found himself and Kenny Pogue in space, and squared the ball through to Pogue who shot straight at Hawkes for the last kick of the game.

Three goals in twelve minutes gave United a precious three points and keeps them tied at the top of the table with Crawley Down Gatwick, who beat Merstham 3-1. Leatherhead also remain unbeaten after a 3-0 victory against Chipstead. John Maggs’ debut as United manager saw a dramatic change in performance after the first United goal. United will play on Saturday at 3pm against Ramsgate again in the first preliminary round of the FA Cup. See you there.

Hastings Utd: Pelling, Gilbert, Richardson, Darby, Judge, Kelly, Crone, Ellis, Pogue, Adams, J. Woodley.

Subs: Olorunda, McLean, L. Woodley, Corrigan, Burbridge.

Ramsgate starting: Hawkes, Sherman, Robinson, Wheatley, O Schulz, Laslett, Chapman, Murray, Pulman, Everitt, Miller.

Subs: W Schulz, Hill, Pilcher, Rowland, Harris.

Attendance: 459
Man of the match, as nominated by Liam Willis: Ben Judge.

Liam P Willis is also Hastings United Programme Co-Editor

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