After the midweek win against Guernsey it is now away against
Hythe are currently the number 6 in the Table with 36 points out of 21 games.
They scored 37 and conceded 25 goals. Top scorers are Dos Santos with 11 and Grant with 10 goals.
Remember last seasons away game: https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/sport/football/local/hastings-draw-with-play-off-rivals-hythe-1-7844219
Hythe plays at: Hythe Town FC, Reachfields Stadium, Fort Road, Hythe
And we? Seeing back some old HUFC faces ( Dickenson,Emptage,Cook) it is interesting to see if we can keep our unbeaten run for 7 games now and if we can play the second 45 minutes just like the first 45.
Forget the final score, for me that was our best and most dominant performance of the season. Apart from a dodgy five minute spell around the 80min mark I thought Hastings dominated possession throughout and if they had taken their chances should have been out of sight before the crazy last couple of minutes.
First half we had most of the possession and looked comfortable at the back, deservedly taking the lead, albeit from a really poor free kick award by the ref, from a lovely glancing header by Ansu from a Golding cross. Within a minute Hythe equalised from possibly there only attack of the first half, their dangerous number 10 finishing well from the edge of the area.
Second half was much the same, with Callum and Kenny twice missing superb chances to kill the game off. We continued to dominate possession with Hythe always looking dangerous on the break when out of nowhere, deep into injury time, Hastings old boy Dave Cook scored. Was to far away to see what happened but was certainly a scrappy goal. It would have been an absolute travesty had Hastings come away with nothing but what character from the boys as a superb flowing move ended with Golding pulling the ball back for a superb finish by sub Taggert.
I think Hastings will be disappointed they didn’t pick up all three points but to outclass a team sitting in sixth place for large periods of the game is a real testament to the boys again.
MOM, Ollie Rowe, Bradley and Sam Beale all close but Tom Climpson was magnificent again. What a talent at just 18. Good day all round and great to see at long last the team performing for the entire game.
-- Edited by johnw on Saturday 2nd of December 2017 06:41:29 PM
Firstly I trust that none of our supporters were involved in the accident ,which looked quite serious, and all got home safely.We were diverted all round the lanes of Kent. As for the game as John says it was one of our best performances of the season. The younger players are getting stronger ,played well for 90minutes and nobody ran out of puff. Well done.
Saw the game differently from John. We were on top for most of the first half but really needed Calum to put away that chance after 35 minutes. Second half was more end to end with Hythe missing some great chances to score. In an exciting, if error strewn game, Hastings had a few chances as well to it was great to see the decisive way George Taggart took his chance in the last minute. Much better than last week.
Great entertainment and I agree with John I thought we were the dominant side throughout and our boys are growing up quickly. I enjoyed Crutt’s performance, some of his passing was outstanding and he did his defensive duties well.
Wouldn't disagree with much already said - both sides squandered clear-cut chances and in the end a draw was a fair result. But, should Hythe have been playing against 10 men for the last 20 minutes?
The Hastings goalie rushed 25 yards and took the Hythe No 12 out with a flying kick - it wasn't a mis-timed or a late tackle, just a deliberate kick. The referee consulted with his assistant to see if there was a defender covering or if he was the 'last man'. The assistant rightly confirmed that there was a defender covering - but the keeper should have received a straight red for violent conduct.
Whatever was going through Charlie Horlock's mind when he probably was lucky not to be sent off, I am totally sure it wasn't to deliberately take out the Hythe man.
Good team performance, great comeback after conceding sooooo late. A big test at a play off placed side. But we need to stop conceding directly after scoring!
