Hastings United sit TOP of the league!

Hastings Utd 1-0 Walton Casuals

United’s first home game of the 2013/2014 campaign began with the visit of Surrey side Walton Casuals on Monday 12 August. United had only played them in the Ryman League South before and last time came away with three points. A wholly new United side, with many county league and local players grabbed three points and a clean-sheet at Chipstead on Saturday for the first game and looked to continue its 100% win record at the start of the new season in the Ryman League South, HOT’s Liam Willis reports.

Walton Casuals started brightly and had the majority of the possession. Connor French made a blistering run down the right and tried to steer the ball towards the attacker, but Sean Kelly had other ideas and cleared out for a corner. Liam Collins took the corner to find Traynor unmarked in the penalty area – he headed towards goal. United keeper, Josh Pelling, was beaten, but United’s saviour was Tom Gilbert who headed off the line and the ball was beaten away.

It didn’t take United long to get a foothold in the game though: Sam Adams made a good attempt which went just over the crossbar from twenty yards and Jamie Crone burst down the left to intercept a cross into Kenny Pogue, who couldn’t quite get his toe to the ball, thanks to the defender. Possession was being squandered by both sides and it soon appeared that Walton Casuals might be on top again.

Ironic cheers from the United supporters burst out loud and clear when the referee finally gave a decision United’s way – this started with a free kick from Sam Adams. The ball was lifted into the area and caused a scrap among the players with everyone striving to get a toe to the ball. Jamie Crone was blocked and the ball fell to Tim Olorunda to stab home to give United the lead after thirty-two minutes, seemingly against the run of play.

Walton Casuals didn’t hold back though – they were full of confidence after winning their first game, despite having to fight back from two behind. Good interchange between a number of players gave Labinjo the opportunity to curl one round Pelling, but Pelling was equal to it and gathered the ball on his second attempt.

The first meaningless scuffle at home this season came after a nasty tackle from Patterson-Bohner on United’s Olorunda where it appeared he went in two-footed towards Tim’s head; Tim stayed down and let his team argue the case. No booking resulted from the referee, who showed United no favours.

Another Sam Adams ball in from the left presented Kenny Pogue with a fantastic header which was tipped over by Bragg in goal. United went in a goal ahead at half-time, with both sides playing equally well.

A slow start to the second half saw possession squandered by both sides and few chances. However United did get a chance when a superb ball presented Kenny Pogue with acres of space to run into and close down on goalkeeper Bragg. The angle however was tight for Pogue and he hit the crossbar from eight yards.

Both sides started to play with more attacking intent, with United probably having the slight edge against the Surrey side. The Cole Warren Stand started to get louder with the joy of singing from the ‘Cole Warren Clan’ and the joy of being in the lead. United looked to build on their lead, when yet another ball in from Sam Adams onto the head of Sean Kelly missed by inches. This happened again from another Adams corner, when the header by Kelly was taken off the line and cleared, giving both teams the chance to regroup.

Walton Casuals did have chances of their own however – Scott Day found Traynor with a ball in from the right. Traynor, in acres of space, couldn’t connect properly and watched the ball dribble wide of the left-hand post.

More crosses from Sam Adams saw United have opportunities to double their lead, but each one seemed to be cleared or go wide of Bragg’s upright. United’s first substitution of the game came with about six minutes to go. A standing ovation for Kenny Pogue came from the United faithful as he walked off and was replaced by Jordan Woodley.

Two minutes after coming on though, Woodley went down from a challenge and remained still on the floor for quite some time. He was stretchered off and it soon became apparent that he had injured his knee. Sam Crutwell replaced Woodley on the left.

Due to Woodley’s stoppage, there were five minutes of added time at the end of the ninety, but no significant chances were presented to either side and the referee blew for full-time. United won the game 1-0 and maintained a 100% win record in the Ryman League South and moved to the top of the table. The next game is on Saturday 17th at the Pilot Field, when United host Redhill FC.

Hastings United: Pelling, Gilbert, Henson, Olorunda, Judge, Kelly, Maclean, Adams, Crone, Darby, Pogue.
Subs: Woodley, Shonk, Cruttwell, Corrigan, Burbridge.

Walton Casuals: Bragg, Labinjo, Flanaghan, Siaw, Dynan, Patterson-Bohner, Collins, Day, Traynor, French, Jimoh.
Subs: Sullivan, Hudson, Duani, Witham, Alande.

Man of the Match, as nominated by Liam Willis: Sam Adams.  

Attendance: 469.

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