Last gasp drama seals play-off spot

Hastings United 1-0 Crawley Down Gatwick
Sittingbourne 2-2 Burgess Hill Town

On a week full of rumours and speculation, it was established that United wouldn’t have their one point deduction, knocking their chances of a play-off spot. They would instead be fined for fielding an ineligible player. United’s defeat to Peacehaven last Monday, knocked the chances of the play-off spot, as Burgess Hill closed the gap and claimed the last space by goal difference, with one game to go. Liam Willis reports.

Leatherhead’s six point deduction moved them into third place and Folkestone up to second in the Ryman South table, so whether it be the U’s, or the Hillians in the final play-off spot, they’d be playing Folkestone Invicta. For United to claim the final play-off spot, they needed to win against Crawley Down Gatwick, and needed Sittingbourne to avoid defeat against Burgess Hill.

Prior to the match, the award for Player of the Season was presented to United’s goalkeeper, Josh Pelling – a well-deserved award and well won, I believe too, with a landslide of votes.

Both sides started slowly in the spring sunshine of the Pilot Field. United dominated possession with Ferguson trying to play in Josh Oyinsan, but the Nike Academy student couldn’t quite execute the finish and ran in to trouble. United squandered a lot of possession after this, with a lot of wasted balls and frustrated challenges – Oyinsan was first in to the referee’s notebook by sliding in on ex-United defender Akwasi Fobi-Edusei.

United hadn’t got into gear, when news filtered through that  Pat Harding had given Burgess Hill the lead at Sittingbourne. Akehurst then volleyed well over Pelling’s crossbar. United could’ve and should’ve taken the lead on twenty minutes. A sublime pass from Hassan to Sawyer, whose blocked shot was parried to Oyinsan only to be miskicked less than a yard out of an open goal – the ball went behind him and Crawley Down were able to scramble it clear.

Nathan Ferguson was next in to the referee’s notebook for a shove on another United ex-defender, Charlie Slocombe. The first substitution from United came after barely half an hour, when Oyinsan was increasingly finding himself in trouble with the referee and was replaced by Kenny Pogue.

It took Pogue less than five minutes to make a huge impact on the game. Pogue, who was making his 114th appearance for the U’s was played in wonderfully from Matt Darby and only a fantastic fingertip save from Campbell-Ross  could push Pogue’s volley on to the post.

It didn’t take much longer for Pogue to get on the score-sheet however. Hassan’s accurate cross from the right gave Pogue a chance he simply couldn’t miss. United lead 1-0 at half time, as did Burgess Hill. As it stood, United would have remained sixth and the Hillian’s lay claim to that last play-off spot.

Crawley Down Gatwick made their first and only substitution at half time – Q Campbell-Rose replaced Afellous. United nearly doubled their lead only minutes in to the second half – a wonderful corner from Sam Adams met the head of Olorunda, who couldn’t quite keep it down. United kept pressing for that second goal to get themselves in the comfort zone. Sawyer’s curling effort went just over the crossbar from twenty yards.

Groans were heard throughout the Pilot Field when news came through that Pat Harding had doubled his goal tally and Burgess Hill’s lead against Sittingbourne, with most United fans now praying for a miracle, Danny Ellis replaced Nathan Ferguson.

The game seemed to lose all fight and got scrappy with barely twenty minutes to go. Matt Darby moved to right-back when Tom O’Connor replaced Charlie Bachellier. Crawley Down Gatwick’s best opportunity of the game came from midfielder Lansdale, whose long range effort had Pelling tipping the shot over the crossbar. Crawley Down Gatwick then found themselves with another wonderful opportunity. McCrae was presented with an open goal but only found the side netting, albeit from a very acute angle.

Cheers were then heard around the Pilot Field, when news came through that Joe Taylor had pulled one back for Sittingbourne with fifteen minutes to go. Crawley Down Gatwick found themselves playing with further attacking intent towards the end of the second half, and United seemed too comfortable with this. Matt Darby had to intercept Frankland’s cross to prevent Edusei from scoring against the side he left in November and levelling for the relegated side.

A seemingly harmless clearance from United’s Pelling was then chased down by Ellis, whose volley smacked against Campbell-Rose’s left hand post, inches away from doubling United’s lead.

With barely seconds to go at the Pilot Field, Sittingbourne were still behind, and United remained outside the play-off places. United pressed forward one more time, before the referee blew the final whistle. United had done what they needed to do to secure a play-off place, but their fate depended on the outcome in North Kent, where Burgess Hill still led.

We heard that there was five minutes of time added on in Sittingbourne, and most of the 492 spectators at the Pilot Field remained there, waiting for any news. Suddenly to an outburst of cheers around the ground, we heard that Sittingbourne had equalised against Burgess Hill in the ninety fourth minute, gifting United their play-off place. As we all waited for comfirmation, numerous phone calls were made and we found that the story was true – Joe Taylor had also grabbed his second of the afternoon at Sittingbourne, earned them a draw and United a play-off place with seconds to go.

United travel to Folkestone Invicta on Tuesday evening 29 May for their play-off semi final. The rendezvous from United’s Twitter page has stated that “In 2006/07, the U’s lost 2-1 at Dover in their fourth last game of the season, before returning to win 2-0 in the play-off semi-final. This year, the U’s fourth last game was at Folkestone, a 2-1 defeat. See where this is going? I’m off to check my horoscope for more clues!”

United starting XI: Pelling, Bachellier, Corrigan, Darby, Judge, Olorunda, Hassan, Adams, Oyinsan, Sawyer, Ferguson.

United subs: Pogue, Ellis, Toney, Wake, O’Connor.

Crawley Down Gatwick starting XI: Z Campbell-Rose, Slocombe, Fobi-Edusei, Akande, Sinclair-Smith, Lansdale, Frankland, Akehurst, McCrae, Hills, Afellous.

Crawley Down Gatwick sub: Q Campbell-Rose.

Man of the Match, as nominated for by Liam Willis: Kenny Pogue
Attendance: 492

Liam Willis is Hastings United Programme Co-Editor

 

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