As the long, Hastings United season draws to a close, perhaps it's a case of what should've been, rather than what could've been. After last season’s play-off disappointment, the only was for the U's seemed to be up. With high expectations from seemingly every supporter, Liam Willis analyses how the season has panned out.
An opening day win for the U's away on the banks on the Thames at Walton Casuals was nothing less than everyone expected. A 2-0 win looked comfortable enough to visualise a successful season, this couldn't be much further from the truth.
United's home campaign started with a draw against Whitstable Town, a goal from Frankie Sawyer securing the U's with a point. The first defeat of the season came at home against Chipstead.
With only five wins in the first 13 games, Terry White stepped down as the first team manager after being at the helm since January, taking over from John Maggs. White lead United to a play-off semi-final in the previous season, with United narrowly losing out to Folkestone in a 112th minute own goal.
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| DDP on the programme cover |
Di Paola brought in a few new faces that were reliable at his former Club. Evan Archibald, Kevin Keehan, Joe Shelley, Marc Pullan and Charlie Farmer amongst them.
United's form slumped once again and then had to travel to league-leaders, Faversham Town. A day that many of the away fans won't forget for some time, United thrashed Town 5-1.
The U's form then slumped once more, with taking one point from bottom of the league Walton Casuals, followed by a home defeat to Walton & Hersham.
Christmas and new year went by and United's form got no better and subsequently, on New Year's Day after a defeat away at Hythe Town and after only fourteen games, Di Paola resigned as the first team boss. A shock to many, and now Mark Stapley & John Masters had to take charge of the first team affairs until United had to appoint their third manager in half a season. The U's wasted no time and after only five days appointed Nigel Kane as the man in charge. Kane had lead United to promotion to the Ryman Premier in 2007 and had the task to keep United in the league this season, which he successfully did in his previous reign.
Kane started with three points away at Horsham, with a late Evan Archibald winner in front of previous manager Dom Di Paola.
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| Kyle Holden Photo: Scott White |
In Kane's first set of programme notes against East Grinstead, he described United's home for as 'dismal'. United hadn't been leading at home at half time all season, and this never changed throughout the entirety. However, on Kane's first game back in the hot seat at the Pilot Field, a goal was scored that'd receive the Goal of the Season award just four months later. Kyle Holden's superb debut volley gave United a consolation goal and United fell victim to fellow-strugglers East Grinstead Town.
United's poor form hit a new low on March 21st. Bottom of the league Horsham visited the Pilot Field in a must win game for both sides. Horsham had been bottom of the table for quite some time and escaping relegation looked beyond them, but United gifted Horsham with three points and a clean sheet. A goal in either half followed by a red card for striker Ade Olorunda saw United plumb to new depths in a game of such magnitude.
The Horsham defeat was followed by a point away at Tooting and Mitcham, courtesy of a goal from Tyrell Richardson-Brown.
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| Dave Ormerod with the team before Herne Bay Photo: Scott White |
Ormerod's first match as Chairman was an important win against Herne Bay - United's first win in 11 games. This was followed by a piece Sam Adams' brilliance against Ramsgate to ensure United won their second game of Ormerod's reign. Tony Cosens was then appointed as the Club Secretary after Darryl Tribbeck stepped down.
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| Sean Ray - Player of the Season Award Photo: Joe Knight |
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| Dave Rimmer presenting cheque Photo: Joe Knight |
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| Kyle Holden - Goal of the Season award Photo: Joe Knight |
