Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

would be good to see mersham not get anything tonight as well johnw

Another crazy night in the life of Hastings Utd FC. Within about a minute of arriving and seeing the team news we all knew we were in for a long night. With only 4 players available from our probable strongest 11 (Josh, Ben, Sammy and Trevor) it was always going to be an uphill struggle against a team hitting a bit of form. What followed for the next hour was barely believable for yet another sizeable Hastings following.

First 5 minutes everything looked okay. Plenty of possession, not a lot of quality, but one fantastic save from the Sittingbourne keeper from a Kenny flick header. Then we all seemed to enter the twilight zone. All started by the at times comical and other times plain bonkers, Sittingbourne manager, who spent the first half jumping and running up and down the line shouting and swearing at everyone within a 10 mile radius. This then seemed to rub off on his players as some of the most blatant and disgraceful diving and cheating ive seen for a long time took place, particularly from their Frankie Boyle lookalike keeper. But fair play to them! it had an effect because for the next 45mins or so Hastings produced the worse football I and many other supporters had ever seen from a Hastings team in many a year, and that says something after some of this years performances. If not for Josh AGAIN, we could have quite easily been 5 down at half time, and all this against a very average looking Sittingbourne, who themselves were not playing particularly well. Yes, we had so many players missing through injury, and Yes, the playing surface was pretty poor, but what we cannot accept as supporters is a lack of fight, heart and effort, and that sadly, apart from Kenny Pogue, was missing all over the pitch. The last 5 minutes was played out with more excitement on the bench then on the pitch, as TW, who you would think would have more important things on his mind, continued his battle with Mr Bonkers and both were warned by the referee, who by the way has not yet had a mention, but thought he would join in the action by being equally poor as everyone else on the pitch.

At last half time! the supporters fuming but also resigned to another inept performance we have all got used to, but as usual we all had great hope for a 2nd half revival. The first half line up was strange to say the least. Corrigan left midfield, I think, 3 at the back I think, no one was really sure of who was playing where but surely super Frankie would save the day. In the half time warm up Frankie told us he was 100% fit so why was he not starting? Really nice to meet his dad by the way who's a top man.

So we sat down waiting for some renewed vigour from the players and thinking nothing can get worse. But this is Hastings...it has to get worse before it gets better. Suddenly supporters started streaming around the back of the goal saying it had kicked off in the changing room and players were fighting. Whether true or not, only a certain few know, but perhaps this is what the team needed. First 10 minutes of the half though nothing changed. Kenny continued to look the only one interested, Josh continued to save the day, and plenty of hot air continued to emulate from both dugouts. Then Frankie Sawyer arrived, the same Frankie who is arguably our best player, the same Frankie who told us he was 100% fit...surprise surprise.... the whole game turned in a second. No one could cope with his pace and movement and suddenly Hastings dominated possession and started to create chances, resulting in a fantastic turn and shot from, surprise, surprise, Frankie. Suddenly everyone was running their socks off, winning 50/50s, creating chances, what had happened in the previous hour? why can TW not motivate the players to do this all game?

Another piece of Frankie magic set up Kenny who was inches away from equaliser as Hastings continued to push and Sittingbourne continued to sit deep, but that equaliser just would not come, despite Sam Adams best efforts to take out every passing aeroplane over the course of the 2nd half.

So huge disappointment once again, and I think the Hastings supporters found this harder to swallow than most. Sittingbourne were very poor, but could have led by 5 after the hour. That says it all about what those players put in. After the hour it was a whole lot better. Not a lot of quality, but players visibly trying and putting it in. Had Frankie started, things may have been different, but clearly there are some huge problems still at the club. Forget the injuries, no effort, no fight for an hour, rumours of fights in the dressing room, arguing on the pitch and with opposition management. Really poor all round and I say it again. Feel so sorry for the magnificent away support yet again.