The club will be running a coach for supporters to our FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round match away to Hitchen Town on Saturday 6th October 2018 we need at least 40 supporters on the coach. It will be ran on first come first served basisÂ
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Adults ÂŁ20
Under 16’s £10
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The departure time will be announced later
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To reserve a seat email davidrussell881@hotmail.co.uk or call/text 07970 332270
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-- Edited by johnw on Saturday 6th of October 2018 05:58:43 PM
-- Edited by johnw on Sunday 7th of October 2018 07:29:20 AM
The club will be running a coach for supporters to our FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round match away to Hitchen Town on Saturday 6th October 2018 we need at least 40 supporters on the coach. It will be ran on first come first served basisÂ
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Adults ÂŁ20
Under 16’s £10
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⏰ The coach will Leave The Pilot Field at 11am
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To reserve a seat email davidrussell881@hotmail.co.uk or call/text 07970 332270
Excellent: let's have a big presence at Hitchin Town. I'll be making my own way up because I have friends up that way that I want to see, but let's fill that coach and bring the noise!
__________________
That bloke over there. "Bulverhythian" at https://twitter.com/Colin_Davey
Just setting off from south London, soaked already. This will be a real test of our playing style - away at a league above us, in the pouring rain. I’d take a draw!
Lost 2-0, overall very poor on the day against very limited opponents on a horrendous wet and cold day.
Started ok with chances from Golding & Vickers who many were surprised to see start on the left wing over Ogboe. Hitchin scores from a set piece and after that always felt like an uphill task made nearly impossible by a penalty early in the second half. And that’s how it ended.
Jamie Fielding struggled at Right back and took a lot of stick and personally would have preferred Manny there with Cruttwell at leftback in his place.
Lovett not starting seemed strange and as others have said before Christie would be most peoples choice at centreback.
So no big FA Cup journey this year and now need to concentrate on the league fully. Please ignore EVERY other Cup including the trophy, they just are not important in the scheme of things.
Huge away support though!Â
-- Edited by Dan on Saturday 6th of October 2018 04:23:52 PM
Well I didn't see that coming! A really poor, lacklustre display from Hastings today and a massive missed opportunity against a really average team who pretty much won at a canter in the end. Even their supporters were shocked as they admitted their own team have been shocking this season. The team have deservedly received massive plaudits this season for there results and style of play but must equally accept any criticism from the magnificent support that pay a lot of money to follow them.
The first 15 mins Hastings started really brightly and could quite easily have been three up with decent chances for Daniel, Tom and Dajon but then the customary defensive errors started again, needlessly giving away both possession and free kicks, and Hitchin took the lead with a free header from a corner. No idea who was supposed to be marking but it was non existent. After this the match became fairly scrappy, but further defensive errors nearly saw us go in two down. Expected the big push second half but it never materialised and the performance was really flat. A poor defensive header from Jamahl giving away easy possession again and a quick break down our left and super cross saw us concede a needless penalty which was easily put away for 2-0. The next 30 mins we huffed and puffed but never looked like scoring with Daniel being totally isolated at times and just a couple of long shots straight at the keeper was all we could register to complete a miserable afternoon.
The lads have been magnificent this year but today was poor. The team selection was strange to say the least. No idea why Tom was starting, or taking all set pieces. Why has Adam failed to start the last 3 games, he should be first on the team sheet closely followed by , for me our best player Crutts, and our best defender Christie. It was stated in the Observer this week that Hitchin were going to be a big, physical side, dangerous from set pieces. So why would Christie not start unless he is injured? Manny got out muscled most of the day at left back, somewhere Crutts has excelled at in the past and I am not sure the central partnership is working at all. And poor old Jamie had an absolute stinker but he'll learn from it. We were just astounded he stayed on the pitch when we were chasing the game and we kept a back four. But very easy to blame the defence, I don't think anyone played well today and just one of those days where too many players had off days.
Not having 'blessing in disguise' Dave. Keep the momentum going, another 15k in the coffers, and the potential of a Leyton Orient next round. Just a poor day at the office from all.
Finally super support today. We reckon we filled half the ground and not sure on attendance but well over 150 from Hastings.
-- Edited by johnw on Saturday 6th of October 2018 06:27:02 PM
-- Edited by johnw on Saturday 6th of October 2018 06:27:46 PM
-- Edited by johnw on Saturday 6th of October 2018 06:36:34 PM
Agree with others ,very strange team selection, let’s hope Joe gets an interview with Chris to explain his thinking because most supporters were baffled. On a positive note Hitchen supporters were full of praise for us.Not our day.
Think the team have been great this season. Good passing football played at pace in the home games I have seen and after hearing about Leiston thought I had to go to Hitchin. Wish I hadn't as was a massive disappointment. Like others have said probably our 3 best players left on the bench in Cruttwell, Christie and Lovatt. Was the intention to lose the game against a team that I think would struggle in our league. We were good to start but soon lost our way and our passing and decision making became worse. I dont think we have played the same starting line up 2 games running, might be wrong but all this chopping and changing why dont we just play our best side. That was a massive opportunity like John says for money and a lucrative game next . Can you imagine if we have missed out on Leyton Orient at home or Maidstone or Dover. There were some really poor performances today across the board and shame a big travel support left disappointed. Not sure if something happened in run up to game but the players just look flat today and not really up for it. Hope it is a one off and we see the good football again next game.
Started the game just like we did against Hythe but it was a bit ominous when we failed to score from some decent openings. Thought it surprising we didn't play Sam Cruttwell and Sinnkaye Christie in an important game especially as it meant we had no naturally left footed players in the team. Inevitably we looked better when Sam eventually came on. Seems like a good opportunity missed.
We were outplayed after the 1st 10 minutes and thoroughly deserved our defeat. We seemed bereft of ideas on how to break Hitchin down, and there didn’t appear to be much coming from the dugout either. Hopefully it’s a one off performance but too many like this and promotion will not be happening.
Mixed feelings. FA Cup is a distraction albeit a lucrative one. While we saw a Hythe like performance today, virtually a full league programme went ahead and we are a massive 10 points adrift of Cray. Yes we have three games in hand but 10 points behind already is not good given the additional difficulties that lie ahead re promotion issues. Miserable day eh?
24 hours on I dont think we should be too harsh on the team, they have been superb this season. It was a really poor day at the office for everyone and just a very very flat performance. I don’t think it will have any effect whatsoever on our promotion chances and may just bring a few supporters back down to earth.
What is a concern is firstly our defence. 19 goals conceded in 12 games is really poor for a team chasing promotion. History tells you that teams winning this league have the best defensive record and grind out 1-0 wins, particularly away from home. Lewes, Folkestone, Tooting and Burgess Hill have all done it over previous seasons.
We clearly missed Sam Beale yesterday, Manny looked really lightweight, Â and we have not replaced Ollie Rowe, our best defender last year, Â at right back. Jamie had a really poor game yesterday and not sure he is the answer at the moment. Centrally there appears to be very little chemistry between Jamahl and Tom, and Jamahl had his poorest game of the an otherwise excellent season yesterday. Our best defender, Christie, continues to be an unused sub and no idea what is going on there. Can only assume he is carrying an injury, but if so let the fans know to stop all the questions.
Secondly what is going on with Adam and Crutts? Along with Daniel our best players this season. Since the announcement that many league clubs were interested in Adam he hasn’t started a game. Are we protecting him for a big pay day? Always look a better team with him pulling the strings in the middle as we do with Crutts in the side. Against a big physical side why would Manny play ahead of him at left back?Â
So a few continuing concerns but in general a fantastic start to the season and we shouldn’t dwell too long on yesterday’s disappointment. All teams have off days and sometimes we all forget, me included, how young and new to this Chris, Browny and the management  team are. We are definitely moving in the right direction, a lot quicker than I thought, and one disappointing result shouldn’t deflect from what we achieved already. Would just like to see some stability in the starting 11 moving forward.
Interesting interview by Chris explaining his reasoning, but personally still do not understand team selection.He spoke of injured players, whatever has happened to Alex Smith ? More elusive than the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Yes, a good interview with Chris. And the main issue of team selection featured prominently. 10 wins in 12 games isn't bad eh? So Chris is clearly doing plenty right. For me the main concern - if you can have concerns with records like 10 wins in 12 - is that we don't keep clean sheets. 2 so far this season. I know it's a bit dinosaur like to go back to 1992-1993, but the Dover Athletic side that won the old Beazer Homes Premier might have only scored 65 goals that season - but they only conceded 23. They were dead efficient, did just enough every Saturday. So maybe that all begs the question about Sinn'kaye not featuring!
The big worry for me this season is nothing to do with the team - it's the total c ock up the FA is making of it's reorganisation of the semi pro game and the end of season effect that has on the play offs with only five sides being promoted that way out of the seven divisions at step 4. I have no time for play offs but that's what we have - and what the FA has done this season is nothing short of disgraceful.
But Chris - going back to Saturday - was dead right. That opening 20 minutes should really have seen us a couple of goals up with United by far the better team. You'd have never thought there was a division gap between the two sides and at no time throughout the 70 minutes that followed could you say Hitchin looked better - as you would expect them to be.
But now is the time to "concentrate on the league" and start digging into that 10 point lead Cray have over us. And next Saturday - it's more cup distraction - the FA Trophy. Our next league game is away to Guernsey on the 21st.
