Another Draw for United

Sixteen minutes gone with nothing much happening bar some passes going astray until a corner from Lee Carey and Josh Jirbandey gave Hastings the head with  a fairytale goal on his final appearance, his sixth goal for the U’s.   Josh got up well to the inswinging corner, and was able to nod home from a few yards out at the far post.

Attacks from both sides, then saw Bradley Goldberg wriggle past a couple of defenders, but a shot from the ‘D’ was well saved by Wealdstone’s Banks. Two  yellow cards came then to Cronin and Brooks of Wealdstone for two separate fouls. End to end play and last minute pressure from Hastings United finished the first half, with an undeclared four minutes of added time.

Soon into the second half, Josh Jirbandey concedes an evident penalty against United, and gave Wealdstone the chance to draw level. Astonishingly, Liam O’Brien made a wondeful save – the second penalty save in two games, (though, this penalty was much better than the one saved against Middlesbrough!). But, the save from Liam didn’t prove to be enough to keep United in front, as the rebound went straight into the path of Dyer to equalise.

Breaks from both teams resulting in no crucial headlines, just clearances and wasted corners from Wealdstone. Hastings went through a period when possession was in their favour, but they were unable to capitalise and failed to create any chances. When Wealdstone got the ball back, they took it straight to the goal that Liam O’Brien had been closely guarding, pulled it back to Jolly who fired wide. Minutes after this chance though, Hastings had one of their own. Star striker Bradley Goldberg got on the end of a wonderful pass to see the keeper racing towards him. Bradley kept a cool head and went round the keeper with only the penalty area to cover and one defender to beat, he shot, but blasted it over.

Daly and Carey then made way for Balio Camara and Tom Vickers. Minutes after this substitution, a crunching challenge on Jono Richardson sent tempers boiling and scenes overspill in the centre of the pitch. Charlie Bachellier then replaced injured Jono Richardson. Pressure from both sides and the game was starting to get edgy, with both teams getting scrappy, and with a lot of the Hastings United fans getting on the referee’s back. United pressured on goal with shots from Dee Okojie for the goalkeeper to collect, and from Danny Ellis, whose cross was cleared.

What appeared to be a clear penalty to Hastings but the  referee shook his head, much to the fans’ displeasure. Five minutes added time and deep into this added time, Wealdstone were clear through only to hit the post and cleared out for a corner. This corner produced a stunning save from Liam O’Brien to give Hastings United a point, and their 8th consecutive draw in the league. At the final whistle, Hastings United’s player-manager Sean Ray had some words with the referee, who didn’t appear to have the best of games.

The draw sees Hastings United go equal on points with Harrow Borough and Thurrock, and sit 19th in the table.