The U’s Enjoy 90 Minutes of Respect

Riverside Stadium Gates

After knowing that a trip to the Riverside will await the winners of the 2nd round vs Harrogate game, both teams had everything to play for. As all well know, Hastings United had a memorable victory and were rewarded with a trip to Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, and a place in the Hastings United record books.

Hastings United signed a goalkeeper to replace Matt Armstrong-Ford just hours before kick off and was able to play 28-day loanee Liam O’Brien from League Two side Barnet; O’Brien had it all to play for. Hastings United was also without striker Zac Attwood after failing a fitness test.

The biggest game in Hastings United’s history started with not much possession at all, Middlesbrough dominating the first ten minutes.  When Hastings United did take possession,  they looked comfortable and not at all daunted by the occasion. The first good chance of the game came to Middlesbrough’s Ishmael Miller. A header from an in swinging corner flashed just over Liam O’Brien’s crossbar.

Another 5 minutes went by, and Ishmael Miller was spinning and jumping around in the penalty area with the ball, trying to find space to get the shot away, until he was clipped and went down from a challenge from Tom Vickers. The penalty was taken by Ishmael, himself and Liam O’Brien made a remarkable save. The penalty wasn’t direct into a corner or smashed. It was at a comfortable place near the middle of the goal for Liam to make the save.  The away Hastings supporters roared and the noise  echoed throughout the whole of the Riverside.

However  United’s luck didn’t last too long  – Merouane Zemmama scored a goal from long range to the top right corner of the goal.;  1-0 to Middlesbrough. It was about 20 yards out and was a quality curler that O’Brien couldn’t get his hand too. More pressure from Middlesbrough and a save from Liam O’Brien saw Hastings United set up Bradley Goldberg to break through the defence, round the keeper and put the ball in the back of the net – only for the linesman to put his flag up for offside against the 19 year old Hastings centre forward.

Hastings United continued to apply pressure on a  Middlesbrough  in possession and a set of corners saw Middlesbrough come close again.   Middlesbrough’s Richard Smallwood  shot from just outside the area went over the bar and soon after, a yellow card  for dissent was shown to Hastings’ Tom Vickers, just after he’d conceded a free kick. Hastings did have chances in the first half with Camara sending in balls into the box, but with no reply on the end to get a shot on target. Noise was starting to build up around the ground as the game was starting to become one sided in Middlesbrough’s favour. Half time came – still 1-0.

United came out with much more passion, fight and belief in the second half, but an early corner from Luke Williams saw Andrew Halliday get on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box into the middle of the goal; not a lot Liam O’Brien  could do, Middlesbrough 2-0 Hastings United.

Danny Ellis was brought on to replace Tom Vickers for Hastings United, and Hastings surged forward on the break, only to be cut out by the last defenders, or the final ball through would let them down. Middlesbrough played back to their keeper and started to flood forward again in numbers, until the final ball was cut out and Hastings United struck back. Lee Carey took a shot from the edge of the area, but this was saved by Jason Steele. Middlesbrough then made a substitution, with Jordan Jones coming on for Luke Williams.

United held on until about the 68th minute when a goal was scored by Merouane Zemmama from just outside the penalty box, the ball passing a couple of defenders to the bottom right corner of the goal.  3-0 to Middlesbrough. Straight from the kick off, United started to fight back. Bradley Goldberg was given the ball and he fired in a goal from outside the box curling in to the top right hand corner of the goal. To the delight of all of the singing Hastings United supporters, they’d scored. Against Championship side Middlesbrough.  Goldberg’s celebration was right in front of the away Hastings United fans, who had travelled just over 300 miles to get to the Riverside. Middlesbrough 3-1 Hastings United.

A substitution from both sides saw Middlesbrough’s Stuart Parnaby go off and Faris Haroun come on and Hastings United’s Scott Manning coming on to replace Elliott Cox, who had a knock from a tackle minutes before the replacement. More possession from Middlesbrough saw Ishmael Miller squander a good chance from inside the penalty area. Hastings United’s Dee Okojie came on for Jack Dixon, whose work rate throughout the game had been 100%. A goal-saving tackle from Hastings United player-manager Sean Ray was timed to perfection to deny Middlesbrough a fourth.

Kevin Thomson then conceded a free kick for handball taken by Lee Carey and sent flying over the cross bar into the Hastings United fans. Middlesbrough’s star man, Merouane Zemmama was taken off and Bryn Morris brought on. A gap in the Hastings United defence saw Ishmael Miller fire in a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal, giving the goalkeeper not much hope. Middlesbrough 4-1 Hastings United after 84 minutes.

The last six minutes of the game presented both sides with broadly equal chances and equal possession, with Hastings United’s last touch letting them down. Four minutes of added time led to more chances for both sides, but nothing to headline. At the full time whistle it was Middlesbrough 4-1 Hastings United.  A great performance by the U’s in the second half saw the goal of the game from Bradley Goldberg and made the 1066 + 2 travelling fans very proud. Throughout the whole game, the away fans were making much more noise than the home crowd!

All of the players have done themselves very proud during this season’s remarkable FA Cup run, and without the dedicated fans travelling to the games, they wouldn’t have had the support they deserved and needed. A big hand goes out to all of the fans who made the trips to Chatham Town, Staines Town, Hitchin Town, Bishop’s Stortford, Harrogate Town and Middlesbrough.

Hastings United, thank you for an unforgettable FA Cup run. Let’s do it again next season!

The Hastings United starting XI:     01 O’Brien, 02 Cox, 03 Whitehead, 05 Ray, 06 Jirbandey, 08 Dixon, 23 Vickers Booked, 04 Carey, 18 Crellin , 09 Camara.11 Goldberg

Subs: 32 Howard, 16 Manning, 07 Ellis, 14 Okijie, 17 Daly, 24 Richardson, 30 Abbot

2 Comments

1. Tom, Sports Editor for the Daily Mail

   This is the type of reviewing we like on our newspaper! Keep it up.

   Tom

   Comment by Tom, Sports Editor for the Daily Mail — Monday, Jan 7, 2013 @ 10:17

2. Bellend

   FANTASTIC REVIEW 5*’S

   Comment by Bellend — Monday, Jan 7, 2013 @ 10:12