After the win against Bridges and the Cup win against Saltdean FC is it now the BIG Game against
Cray are currently the number 1 in the League with 31 points out of 11 games. 10 wins and 1 draw ( at home against Whyteleafe).
They scored 29 and conceded 9 goals. Top scorers: Parker and Power with 5 goals; Mundele with 4.
Cray plays at: Bromley Football Club, Hayes Lane, Bromley
Last season we drew 1-1.
And we?
Surely this is a big test for the team. A win for Cray means they will walk away from the rest. Surely ( maybe also like we do) they have some trouble in winning the games lately. A last winner last Saturday against Haywards ,0-1 and before a 1-2 win against Herne show they have some trouble , on the other hand they concede not many goals.
Think at this moment of the season it is good to see where we are, Mentally and Physical.
Absolutely gutted with today’s score line. First half Hastings were absolutely superb and pretty much dominated proceedings against a really strong opponent, but as we have done for much of the season, we just couldn’t convert any of the numerous chances that came our way. The two best of these being one for Dixon and one for Azeez in the space of two minutes, when with only the man on the line to beat, both failed to convert. As other half chances came and went there was some inevitabilty as to what was to come when a poor clearance from Sam Beale fell straight to the feet of the Cray striker who had an easy finish into the bottom corner to take a totally undeserved lead into half time.
With all respect to Cray, they came out a completely different team and dominated the early proceedings. They went two nil up through a superbly taken goal and looked as if they would win comfortably but this Hastings side has something about it and within a few minutes got a goal back through a headed own goal from a corner. After this Hastings huffed and puffed and made a couple of half chances but to be fair Cray saw it out fairly comfortably and could have actually increased their lead. Junior Dadson terrorised Manny down the left all match and they looked extremely solid at the back. A very good side.
Some really strong performances today from Azeez, Adams and Dixon, and thought Climpson and Howlett Mundle had their best game together but for me the stand out player was Ibrahim who I thought was the best player on the pitch. I think when he was substituted we certainly didn’t look the same team but I am guessing there was some concern that he was close to collecting a red. No other reason why he should be removed.
So a huge disappointment but Hastings should still be very proud of their performance today. Certainly dropped off second half and Cray came on really strong but we really should have had the game wrapped up by half time. Still very early in the season but from what I saw today and what I have seen from the rest of the league I really cannot see Cray dropping many points all season. I think we are as good as them, I honestly believe that, but today was a huge missed opportunity after all those missed chances.
Good report John, but 2 things to be very concerned about, we cannot with our squad change a game, we have no big man to turn too, the other is we were chasing the game for the last 20 minutes and we didn’t create a half chance let alone a good one. Cray were fortunate but we only have ourselves to blame.
Certainly a great first half but as John says Cray are not a bad side, although their No. 6 fell over more times than I have had hot dinners.....the slightest tackle and over he went, yet he was one of the biggest blokes on the pitch.on the other hand Nick Blue the Cray keeper ,what a great sport. Real character.
Fantastic support from our fans , must have been over 100 there.
We go again Tuesday , still 3/4 of the season to go.
Still early days but does look like Cray may do a Folkestone / Burgess Hill and romp away. Our squad is full of attacking quality but we need to tighten up at the back. You get two, we get three isn't going to get us out of this division. Throw some clean sheets in there with that front line and midfield and we will be in great nick. Go again Tuesday.
Didn't go yesterday but sounds like we played well and a bit unlucky not to get something from the game. We have the 2nd best defensive record in the league so not sure how much more we need to tighten up at the back. Most of the games I have seen this season have been entertaining and like the way we attack with pace. Looks like a 2 horse race to win the league with Cray and us.
Let’s be honest we were not unlucky, the ref didn’t make a mistake, we conceded 2 fair goals, we lost because we weren’t good enough at the key moments. There was no luck involved in Crays win.
Have to agree with Chris. Referee was superb, we didn’t take our chances, Cray did, and they did a super job last 20mins in taking the sting out the game. Offensively both teams were well matched but defensively Cray were magnificent. Four big, powerful, quick defenders, not taking anything away from our central lads who played very well yesterday, but for me that was the difference between the two sides.
Just a very good game between two very good teams and luck had no effect on the final outcome.
I think if we we ever going to beat Cray then we needed to have scored first as to come from behind against their big strong defenders was always going to be a difficult task.
With the league being so poor this season I cannot see Cray dropping many points as there are hardly any teams in this division that seem good enough to beat them or take any points off of them.
Still it is early days yet and nearly every team goes through a bad patch at some point in the season,so I am just waiting for Cray's to come along if it ever does.
With the league being so poor this season I cannot see Cray dropping many points as there are hardly any teams in this division that seem good enough to beat them or take any points off of them.
Don’t get too down hearted ... Cray only just beat Haywards Heath last week with an 89th min goal . Our lads are still on a learning curve too ... slowly slowly catchy monkey 🐵
Agree, still early yet! We got 2 home games now (must wins) winning both will keep us very much in the running. I'm sure cray will lose at some point, besides we've got to play them at home yet.
