Pilot field at start

Could this be United’s FA Trophy Year?

Hastings United 3-2 Brentwood Town
6 October 2013

Exciting new signing Rodrigo Branco was due to make his United debut at home to Brentwood. The twenty-one year old brings experience from the Premier League, League Two, Conference Premier and from Europe. United had no Matt Darby though, who was too ill to play. This is United’s first game of their season in the FA Trophy and a win today would save being knocked out or a potential trip to Essex next week. HOT’s Liam Willis reports.

United started the first half strongly – Danny Ellis was fouled just outside the penalty area and Sam Adams took the freekick. Adams managed to bend his freekick round the wall, but the goalkeeper was equal to it and made a fine save. United continued to attack in the first twenty-minutes of the half. Kenny Pogue was released down the right hand side and found his way in to the penalty area, however the defender forced him wide and a shot from an acute angle was saved by Pitman.

Jordan Woodley then took a freekick from a position similar to Sam Adam’s previous effort. Woodley managed to curl the ball round, but not enough to get a shot on target and the ball crashed into the side netting. It didn’t take long for United to get the goal they so sorely craved. A lovely bit of play from United, including an interchange between Sam Adams and Tim Olorunda saw a ball lofted towards Bailo Camara who lashed home from the penalty area on twenty-three minutes.

Brentwood Town’s Gardner  started to be a threat to United. He found himself in space clean through the defence with only Josh Pelling to beat, but wasted the opportunity to equalise when he fired wide of goal. Brentwood continued to pressure United and look for an equaliser. A shot from Dobbs produced a fine save from Pelling, but the ball trickled out to Subuola, whose deflected cross beat Pelling and hit the post, before Sean Kelly lashed the ball away

Then it was United’s turn to put on the pressure. Firstly, Pogue was released down the right, with only Pitman to beat. Pogue tried to chip, but the ball went wide. Then Sam Adams went close with a half volley – Adams’ shot was blocked. Pressure was coming in spells from both sides, with just over five minutes before the end of the half. United’s spell of pressure showed when they doubled their lead on thirty-nine minutes. A sublime ball came from Bailo Camara to Sam Adams whose cross beat Pitman and gave Pogue the opportunity to get on the scoresheet with a tap in.

Brentwood came back fighting though – Gardner was close again when he found space after he’d beaten Edusei – Gardner shot over the top of Pelling’s crossbar. During the minute of added time, Kenny Pogue nearly doubled his goal tally for the day when he found space to shoot in the penalty area, but Pogue could only get underneath the ball and it soared over Pitman’s crossbar.

Brentwood started the second half with conviction, forcing three corners in succession, but came away with nothing to show for their efforts. An early turning point in the second half came when Sean Kelly was shown a straight red card for a seemingly two-footed challenge, even though he got the ball. Tom Gilbert then replaced Jordan Woodley, just before Brentwood’s Gardner got another shot away but was still not able to beat Pelling.

A United substitution then saw Rodrigo Branco make his debut. We didn’t have to wait long for an amazing chance to come his way. A wonderful ball from Camara split the defence and Branco found himself way clear of any defender and, with the whole ground on their feet, Branco slipped as the ball was scrambled away by an oncoming defender. Brentwood made Branco pay for his mistake too. Edusei didn’t anticipate and cover a ball to Gardner, who’d been a threat all day. Gardner’s cross bounced off Edusei, off the crossbar and right in to the path of Carvell who headed in to halve United’s lead. Seconds later, Edusei was replaced by Jono Richardson.

Only a few minutes later though Branco lived up to expectations and scored his debut goal. Again, released by Camara, Branco found himself with only Pitman to beat. Branco went round Pitman and rolled the ball into the empty net. Soon after the re-start, Branco came close again. This time, he tried to lob Pitman and was only a few inches wide. Brentwood, with little time remaining, reduced United’s lead by half again. Danny Ellis fouled Dobbs in the penalty area and Subuola converted the penalty in the top of the goal. United 3-2 Brentwood with ten minutes remaining.

Little happened in the remaining ten minutes – Brentwood continued to pressure United for an equaliser and United stood firm. The referee brought an end to the game and United had booked their place in the next round and avoided a trip to Essex for a replay next week. United will play Horsham in a fortnight at the Pilot Field. United next face Folkestone Invicta in the league on Monday evening – kick off at 7.45pm, see you there.

Hastings United starting XI: Pelling, Slocombe, Fobi-Edusei, Camara, Judge, Kelly, Ellis, Olorunda, Pogue, Adams, Woodley.
Subs: Branco, Richardson, Gilbert, Cruttwell, Burbridge.

Brentwood Town starting XI: Pitman, Dobbs, Rolls, Love, Wilson, Bradley, Gardner, Okus, Subuola, Carvell, Dixon.
Subs: Hogan, Sonuga

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