Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

Match report

www.hastingsunited.com/news/hastings-carshalton

What a crazy, crazy day! 8 goals, We hit the woodwork 3 times, had one disallowed, 3 penalties to Carshalton, shocking defending by both sides and even my burger and chips were freezing cold.

Carshalton took the lead in the first 5 mins via the penalty spot and were the dominant force first 10 but for the next 35, Hastings were at their scintillating best, making chance after chance and deservedly heading in at half time 3-1 up, courtesy of two headed goals from Steve Watt and an absolute stunning curling shot from the best player on the pitch, Harry Stannard. Another Watt header off the post and a Johnson fluff from 5 yards really saved Carshalton from a bigger hammering.

The talk at half time was one more goal and it was game over and within 5 mins Frannie hit the bar from 5 yards when it looked easier to score. This was undoubtedly the turning point as within 10mins we were suddenly 4-3 down. A mixture of dreadful defending, a severe lack of pace at the back, and a badly tiring Steve Watt meant we were suddenly behind in a game we had dominated. Too far away to pass comment on any of the penalties but the lead up to each was down to some really poor defending. The fun was not over as Steve Watt turned and volleyed like Messi to make it 4-4. Sadly his defending was a different kind of Messi. Really thought we may push on after this but to be fair I thought Carshalton dominated the last 15, not helped by the strange substitution of Stannard.

So real mixed emotions tonight and a definite 2 points dropped against a decent team. Hastings on chances alone should have won by 3 or 4 clear goals but by the end we were hanging on for a point. Again we have failed to beat one of the top five and our lack of depth at the back really is a massive concern. Another injury to Butcher today and a back 4 of Rowe, a clearly unfit Steve Watt and 2 midfielders is just not good enough and reinforcements are desperately required.

Positives today were clearly Watt  offensively, not sure defensively, Bodkin as per usual, our passing and movement in the final third and the outstanding Stannard. Negatives were just our overall defending today and Akrofi when he came on was just not good enough I am afraid.

Good day, great support as always and a great advertisement for non league footy if not how to defend.Top of my Hastings Xmas list will definitely be two new defenders please, with a little bit of pace, if that's not asking too much.

Jeromes on loan ( def not released or dual reg )

Dead right - defence needs reinforcing. I was stuck at work yesterday so missed the Carshaltonfest - and it seems a tad bizzare that Steve Watt might've got a hat trick plus his other goals this season, but he does seem to be carrying an injury which affects his fitness. Yakking away last weekend during the Aylesbury game and the subject of the defence came up again.

4-4. Unreal. Followed it on Twitter yesterday. We'd have probably been happy with a point there at 2.59 pm. A penalty hat trick for their bloke? You what!

Robins and Hastings share the points in bonfire night thriller:

www.southlondonsport.co.uk/single-post/2016/11/07/Robins-and-Hastings-Share-Points-in-Bonfire-Night-Thriller

bookworm wrote:

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Entertaining but also in top section of Non League Fair Play ranking

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 Yes and I see that Carshalton are Just below us in the Rankings. Not a bad side at all and I thought that over the 90 minutes a draw was a fair result. Although at 3-1 if we had got that 4th goal they would not have come back from that.

Soon after Steve Watt scored the equaliser though we took off Jack Harris and brought on Alex Akrofi and in the final 20 minutes we didn't look like scoring and were hanging on in the end for a point.

Going back to the Fair Play Rankings I am sure that Steve Watt was booked in the 2nd half for dissent so we have probably gone down the rankings a few places now! In fact he is often seen arguing with referees and if he is the Assistant Manager he is not setting a very good example!

I see also that South Park are right near the bottom of the Fair Play League, our opponents on Saturday.