Don't count your chickens Phil. Sadly we have a town full of people who love to turn up in mass at these big events but disappear back into the wilderness when it comes to supporting their local team. Remember all those years ago, 4500 turning up for Hastings v Harrogate in the memorable FA Cup and then a week later, if my memory serves me right, we played Enfield at home in a big relegation battle and about 300 turned up. It really was quite unbelievable!
2-0 flattered Hastings and no one could have argued if South Park had taken all 3 points. In fact I would go as far as saying that the first half performance was one of the worst since Chris took over. Apart from the save from Rodari on to the bar and a couple of mis hit shots from Adams their keeper barely touched the ball whilst at the other end some poor finishing mixed with great keeping kept the score line at 0-0 until Rodari scored right on half time.
Second half much better and plenty more chances for the Hastings but South Park continued to cause problems as they always do with the likes of Lavery and Mazzone up top and once again both Charlie and the woodwork saved us. Good finish from Ollie Rowe, who was just immense again, what a player, wrapped up the points but a few nervous moments at the end.
First time this season I have seen a team outpass Hastings at times and South Park actually surprised me how well they played after shipping 7 and 8 goals in two recent matches. They moved the ball really quickly and looked very fit considering all the games of late whilst I thought Hastings showed the first signs of a long season. But how many times this season, particularly away from home, have we battered teams and come away with a point or defeat? No way did they batter us and we played okay but nice for change to see a team raise their game and play well against us but we still come away with the win. Great character and good signs for next season if we manage to keep these same players, which I keep hearing may be very doubtful.
Good win, 8th place guarantee, super effort by all 👏👏👏
-- Edited by johnw on Wednesday 25th of April 2018 05:56:43 AM
Peculiar game, really. There were quite a few good things: I thought Rodari led the attack well, forcing his goal as much through being persistently irritating for the preceding forty-four minutes as pressure on the defender in that particular moment. Unlike on some occasions, possession was converted into clear-cut chances, particularly after Golding had come on to provide a more aggressive threat on the left in the second half. Walker-Barth is rewarding the faith shown in him, I think; Dullaway likewise.
But as others have noted, South Park created a remarkable number of very good openings whenever they did get hold of the ball. Somehow or other - partly through heroics from Horlock, partly through bad luck and partly through poor finishing - they never actually managed to get the ball in the net, and you could feel and enjoy their anguish as it became obvious that it was going to be one of those days. Quite nice to take three points from a game without really deserving it for a change.