After maybe the most strange first 45 minutes in the history of HU against Chipstead it is now home against
The Wasps are currently on place 24 and bottom of the table after 3 losses. Scored 2 and conceded 8 goals.
Last season we won away 0-1 ( Medlock) and at home we won 5-2 ( Cruttwell 2x,Cole,Medlock and Adams 1x).
And we? What can you say about the game against Chipstead? After 21 minutes Chipstead had scored 3 times and also missed a penalty; think that you can say that is not normal, very poor and we completely blew the opening of the game. But then within 9 minutes it was suddenly 3-3. The loan player from Maidstone United , Jay May ( picture Scott White) scored within 9 minutes 3 goals and his third was a beautiful strike from the centre circle! Although Hastings hit the bar 4 times in that game the final result was reached after 33 minutes. 2 points lost so it seems.
Think we need the 3 points against a side who is struggling; EGT has rebuild their squad and after 3 losses the confidence will not be that high. So hopefully with a lot of people coming to The Pilot Field I wish you all a great game and please support the team 100%.
Workmanlike performance from Hastings today, but never really needed to be much better to beat a very average East Grinstead team. After being short of strikers all season, Darren decided to play 3 up top today with Jay, Frannie and Bright all starting. Whether intentional or not, this resulted in a more direct approach from the team today, and constant long balls over the top, which if Bright was sharper may have just worked, but became rather predictable after a while and memories of seasons past started to spring to mind. To be fair to East Grinstead they looked fairly comfortable up until a beautiful finish by their no 6, straight into the top corner after a flick on from Frannie to give us a slightly fortunate half time lead. Really expected to kick on 2nd half but it didn't really materialise although we always looked pretty comfortable. Still a lot of long ball stuff and misplaced passes until yet another bit of magic from Jay May put the game to bed with a sublime finish from the edge of the area. After that there were further chances for the excellent Sam Cruttwell and Jay May but 2-0 was probably just about all we deserved.
Positives today were the excellent Sam Cole and Sam Cruttwell along with the deserved MOM in Johnno. Still think we have big issues at the back and God help us if Ollie Rowe gets injured. And poor old Bright had an absolute stinker today. Looked way off the pace and he really stood out. Felt rather sorry for him to be honest and think he needs a really good run of games out on loan whilst he regains fitness. I also suggest that Dave O dips into his millions and gets Jay May signed if he can. Not the best of games today but like Medlock last year, can always produce that bit of magic in a second, and there are very few that can do that at this level.
So four games unbeaten and with a cup game against lower opposition and two very winnable home league games, things looking okay, apart from the injuries.
A very fair summary, John. Likewise, I felt sorry for Bright. He was given his chance and, sadly, did not rise to it. Yes, he needs a run of games on loan to regain fitness, confidence and a touch for goal. As things stand he is not developing and is not the asset to the club hopefully he could be. Given that, and another excellent goal, I certainly agree too that Jay May should be secured if that is at all possible; but perhaps an even greater priority is to have another centre back - just how many game minutes are we going to see from Steve Watt as the season goes on?
To be fair to Bright, as he is very young and very raw, I don't think he has been handled particularly well over the past season and a bit by the club. He clearly needs to be out on loan, playing games and scoring goals. He has great potential but has he actually played 90 mins in the last year? Even today, why did he start? He has played barely any pre season friendlies and has been getting over an injury since. To throw him straight in from the beginning, when we already had Jay and Frannie fit, seemed a little unfair on the lad and right from the first 5 mins, when he was clear through and had a heavy touch, it was plain to see he was a million miles away from being ready to start a game.
We all want to see youth being given the chance at Hastings and Bright is possibly the best of the lot at present but I think at times (like Tyrell), he has been given a bit of a bum deal by the manager in charge. Need to be careful we don't ruin a promising career before its even started. Just ask Kyle Holden.
As always you haven't left us too much to comment on, John.
Yeah, poor Bright rather had a day to forget...but we've seen him come off the bench and make a big difference before so I'm sure he'll come good again.
Totally agree that Crutts and Johnno were outstanding today and, like the last home game, either could have been MotM. Great finish and approach work by Jay for his goal but, rather like his last home performance, he didn't do too much other than that. Will we be able to keep hold of him,I wonder? However a goal a game will do me ! Also didn't see too much of Frannie today.....but I guess there are a lot of relative 'strangers' out there at the moment and we need time to settle into a team.
Regarding the defence, well, I feel Ollie MUST play in the centre.....it's by far his most effective position and I don't really rate him at full back. Sorry if I have missed some news but where was Richard Davies today ? Thought Jerome did pretty well... I don't think he has ever let us down...but I need more convincing about Reece Butler and today's sub, Richie Welch......at times I thought it was Raquel!
In the end it was comfortable against very average opponents but the game itself was really rather forgetable and we'll have to do quite a bit better if we're going to compete with the best in this league.
i just wonder how long before the manager has any idea what our best team may be. I have absolutely no idea.
Once again injuries have hit us with Matt Bodkin who seemed to hurt his leg on Saturday and Steve having to go off early. Can't be easy when you haven't had a full squad to pick from and I was told that Richard was away for the weekend. Still three points from the game, after Saturday I was happy with that. Have to agree that Simon and Sam were men of the match
East Grinstead competed well and might have been awarded a couple of penalties on another day. Just like last season we have a number of good players which hopefully will combine together to form a good team. We had quite an untried back 4 for most of the second half which may or not be a problem against the better sides.
I thought we did OK and will improve over the next few weeks. I also had the feeling that the spirit and pride within the club is gradually being restored. There is certainly a better feel to the PF from the moment you walk in. Great to see some loyal fans back on board. The only criticism of the club is its willingness to continue supplying Mick with extraordinary portions of chips. Not too sure it's doing him any good.......perhaps when he gets to 60, he will go on to near-pensioners half measures? Nevertheless, I can't think of a better bloke to share 90 minutes with.
( picture Scott White) scored within 9 minutes 3 goals and his third was a beautiful strike from the centre circle! Although Hastings hit the bar 4 times in that game the final result was reached after 33 minutes. 2 points lost so it seems.
