After the good result against Worthing Hastings will face another big test.
In the 3rd round of the League Cup we travel to Margate who are currently at the 9th place in the Isthmian Premier League table. They won 4 of their 9 home games this season.
They have no real top scorer in the team and that is why former Millwall,Rangers,Watford,WHU,Ebbsfleet and youth England international Ashikodi made his debut last Saturday against Canvey Island.
Former Hastings player Zac Attwoord left the club late August to join Maidstone.
How many Hastings supporters will travel to Hartsdown stadium at the coast ? Almost 75 miles and a 100 minute drive ?
I would have been quite happy for us to have been knocked out of this competition so we can concentrate on the league, that was until I found out the winners go to Maidstone next round. Be nice to win now and then take a couple of coach loads to the Gallagher Stadium.
Me. To pat don't want the chance of any injuries to interrupt the lg as we now seem to have started to gel ,would still like to see Darby back in from the start.
Have to agree with the others the competition is a total waste of time. Two recent gates prove this Maidstone vs Hythe 339 and a local derby Wealdstone vs Harrow 159.
Clubs had the option of not entering the cup this season and as I've stated before the plan was for the U21 squad to play in it, that was Sean's plan and obviously with the way things have panned out John has different plans. For me I have to agree that its a waste of time, no prize fund and you could even be drawn against a team as far away as Suffolk. If we loose tomorrow I won't be to upset but can see the interest in playing Maidstone at their new stadium.
Useful for using up suspension time - and naff all else. Low low gates reflect the indifference out there. Though, bizzarely, do you older ones recall those two thousand plus gates for the two leg tie against the Stains?
Even the Ryman people show it up for what it is - game to be settled on the night shows they want it over and done with. Maidstone away sounds ok but not so sure now
We have always had these type of games ....they are only good for players coming back from injury , fringe players and as Simon says using up suspensions ...otherwise just give kids valuable playing time ....I can remember the 70's the Kent Messenger Trophy . There were some good games ...one was a 5-3 win for us v Ramsgate on a freezing night ...it was snowing and Ramsgate had to use our away kit because they forgot their own ....it was quite confusing because both kits were actually quite similar then ...claret n blue and claret n white ...similar to design to the Welsh or Coventry's 70's kit for those who can remember .Similar to this but main colour claret...maybe my memory is going ...love to see some pictures of that kit ..anyone ? Circa 74-77 I think
Line-up : Josh Pelling 1 Charlie Slocombe 2 Tom Gilbert 3 Matt Darby 4 Andy Henson 5
Sean Kelly 6 Sam Cruttwell 7 Jordan Woodley 8
Kenny Pogue 9 Sam Adams 10 Bailo Camara 11
Subs: Chris Cumming-Bart 12
Andy Corrigan 14
Bobbie-Jay Deegan 15
Justin Lee 17
Hope we can take a few supporters, I don't think many went to Margate (such a same as the result was very good good and sounds like Margate had only a couple of shorts on target all game - Reminds me up us last year!)
took opportunity to visit familey otherwise would not bother with this cup but glad i did. solid performance by Hastings and although Margate better side first half we sussed them out and second half was totally dominated by Hastings. Bailo had a superb game and Kenny work hard as usual. Woodley frustratingly lazy but some decent passes. Defence looked solid and liked look of Crutwell in midfield who looked competent and has a left foot! Was surprised how poor Margate were and think they are to high in premier table as if they are a mid table side then we would do ok with our side in premier even though we were missing some big players last night.
based on crowd last night no one really cares about this cup but good our players wanted to go and perform
Great win for the lads last night and I don't care how unimportant this competition is, I'm a great believer in keeping the winning momentum. The squad looking really decent now keeping in mind the 8 players missing last night (Hare, Judge, Ellis, Olorunda, McCreadie, Dolan, Pacheco and Vickers).
Just a shame it will be a midweek night again, could have taken 100+ on a Saturday to Maidstone but reckon it will be nearer 40 or so at best on a tues night
Mixed emotions for me. On the one hand – absolute joy that we beat a full strength Margate so convincingly. It never hurts getting one over on them whatever the competition. I think we really are turning into a force to be reckoned with now and credit to John and the players for that.
I too would like to see the Gallagher stadium, but in all honesty I want to see it next season at a Ryman Premier game – I really do not want us to fall away from our objective at the last hurdle because we are still in a pointless tournament that nobody cares about. I think we have a better squad to deal with this of course, but I can’t help wishing that we hadn’t entered in the first place.
But once again they were disappointed, not unlike Saturday the gate let their good first half work slip and let the visitors back into the tie. On the hour Hastings had their first real chance, Sam Adams taking advantage of a mistake but his shot was well smothered by Holloway and from that moment on only one team looked likely to go on and win. Four minutes later it was one nil, Sam Cruttwell's angled pass found Bailo Camara, the striker composed himself before firing across Holloway into the net. Osborn reacted by making three changes, Bodkin, Whitely and Kinch replaced Whitelock, Ehui and the injured Borrowdale, Avery dropping into centre half as Margate looked to get back on level terms. Bodkin looked lively as he darted past three into the box but could find no way past Josh Pelling, and his efforts almost seemed in vain as with the very next attack the lead was doubled, Camara firing in from a similar position via the crossbar. And when Kenny Pogue added the third six minutes later gone were any chances of cup silverware this season, leaving Margate with no answers, although late on Joe Vines did go close with a header from Bodkin's corner.
-- Edited by BertNEC on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 05:26:27 PM
I can see both sides of the argument, yeah its a chance of a bit of silverware and a chance to give some younger players a run out but then again when you're fighting for promotion you don't need a distraction of a cup run.
Out of the two I prefer the Sussex Senior cup, possibility of playing Brighton, Crawley Town or even Eastbourne Borough and the chance to play at the AMEX in the final, last years Ryman cup final was meant to be at Staines I think?!
