Hastings vs Lowestoft

United blow to form

Hastings United v Lowestoft Town – February 16th 2013

United have lost only once at home this season, against Bury. However, to maintain this record, the U’s will have to overcome promotion-chasing Lowestoft Town. Eight straight home league draws for the U’s and they know Lowestoft Town are on good form. Scott Manning and Jono Richardson rejoin the U’s replacing injured Matt Whitehead and Lee Carey who’s been dropped to the bench. Debutant Ray Freeman starts on the left and a warm welcome for him is in order. Writes HOT’s Liam Willis.

After only ten minutes, a ricochet of the ball found its way to the feet of on-form Danny Ellis, who treated himself to a shot, which hit a defender and seemed to be goal bound. The ball was rising and suddenly dropping but only clattered the cross bar and was cleared upfield. A second chance for the U’s came in a couple of minutes with a scrap in the penalty area, which none of the attackers could get a toe too and then led to a Lowestoft Town freekick.

Lowestoft were denied by a remarkable reflex save from East, keeping out a glorious header by Chris Henderson from Lee Smith’s cross. However, Hastings’ good fortune didn’t last for too long. Scott Manning failed to clear the ball, and an almost identical cross to the one minutes before, from Ainsley was met at the far post by Jack Defty and he gave Lowestoft Town the lead after seventeen minutes.

Jamie Crellin was booked for an awkward lunge, and the free kick from this foul went out for a corner, which was headed back out to the taker, who ran into the penalty area and flashed a shot inches wide of East’s upright. United enjoyed a good spell of possession after this – a run from Manning and a cross to Attwood who turned and shot; seeming to have too much time, the ball found its way to Mikel Suarez who tapped home for 1-1. United carried on this good spell, the wind in their sails, with a significant amount of posession, but weren’t able to find a way through and a final ball in. United forced a corner from a Suarez shot, which was headed over by Sean Ray. On the counter, East makes another incredible reflex save from an effort by Frew.

The referee had indicated one minute of added time, and deep into this minute, Lowestoft had won a corner which was taken by Smith and Defty climbed higher than the U’s defender to head home from a couple of yards. At half time it was Hastings 1-2 Lowestoft.

The second half didn’t offer the crowd at the Pilot Field as much action as the first. Lowestoft nearly doubled their lead, but the shot went wide of East’s post. Danny Ellis was also denied from a good bit of play by Okojie.

A double substitution for the U’s saw Ray Freeman replaced by Balio Camara and Jamie Crellin by Tom Vickers. There followed chances from both sides and a lot of the play in the middle of the park with both defences blocking the attacks until United’s  Ellis gave away the ball and Defty made a run along the flank, crossing the ball to the edge of the penalty area to Henderson who fired home into the top left corner, giving East no chance. Lowestoft had doubled their lead after all with fifteen minutes to go. A big task faced United at this point. Due to this mistake, Danny Ellis was replaced by Jack Dixon, who is on his way back from injury.

The first significant chance for United came in the ninetieth minute, a header back from a cross was headered into the path of Richardson, who struck the ball on the half volley, but Plummer was equal to the shot, and provided a good catch. Deep into 4 minutes of injury time again, Lowestoft grabbed a fourth goal. A weak header from Ben Judge, was pounced upon by Dawkins and he went around East and Ray to score with ease. The referee blew his whistle and the final score was Hastings United 1-4 Lowestoft Town

Hastings are beaten at home for only the second time this season by high flying Lowestoft, and the relegation fight is really on now. The bottom two teams and the only two below the U’s faced each other. Thurrock and Carshalton battled it out, in Thurrock. Carshalton took the victory, by winning 3-1, which put them equal on points with the U’s, meaning that Hastings are not yet in the relegation zone, but are separated by zero points and only three goals. Mid-table Leiston and East Thurrock enjoyed a nine-goal thriller with Leiston leading 4-3 after the first forty five minutes. Leiston went on to keep their lead and win 5-4.

Hastings United starting XI: East, Manning, Richardson, Crellin (c), Ray, Judge, Ellis, Okojie, Suarez, Attwood, Freeman.

Subs: Carey, Cox, Vickers, Camara, Dixon.

Lowestoft starting XI: Plummer, Williams, Ainsley, Okay, Crane, Gaughran (c), Smith, Fisk, Defty, Henderson, Frew.

Subs: Eagle, Dawkins, Francis, Cunningham, Reynolds.

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