Would love to see a crowd of 1,000 but think more likely about 750. Don’t think Ashford will bring so many and it’s a school day. Hope to be proved wrong.
Would love to see a crowd of 1,000 but think more likely about 750. Don’t think Ashford will bring so many and it’s a school day. Hope to be proved wrong.
Phil, school day with be out at 19:45.............I hope...
True Roger, would like to see some Elton and Harrow pupils , maybe even some young ladies from Roedean, what I was alluding to was that it could be a late night and all the local little darlings have to get up on Tuesday morning for school.
Roe dean pupils likely to go to Lancing to see Horsham match as it’s closer to school.
Hastings school attendance not as good as Grammar school dats anyway. Has the potential of being a great night
Line up:
1
Charlie Horlock
3
Sam Beale
4
Gary Elphick
7
Davide Rodari
8
Adam Lovatt
10
Sam Adams
12
Jack Tucker
14
Bradley Stevenson
15
Jamie Fielding
17
Lanre Azeez
18
Jack Dixon
2
Ollie Black
5
Jahmal Howlett-Mundle
6
Sam Cruttwell
9
Daniel Ajakaiye
11
Jordy Mongoy
Hugely disappointing yet again from Hastings but I guess we are all used to it by now. Not a great game and neither team played well and in fact it was one of the worst Hastings performances ive seen for a while. Very little on offer up top today with the two goals being our only shots on target whilst at the other end we were found wanting yet again defensively. And as for Bradley Stevenson.....I’ll bite my lip on that one but how he remained on the pitch is mystery to me and everyone else around me.
Obviously it’s all very raw now, and you do wonder how a squad with so much ability is going to spend another year in this league but as I said, pretty used to it now. We‘ll all have a moan over the next week or so, and you’ll never see 3/4 of tonight’s crowd or probably the team again, but the same old lot will be back in September supporting the team on another fruitless promotion 😩😩campaign
Very disappointing, gutted, thought Ashford like last week were the better side and deserved to go through. Tough to take but we weren't really at the races tonight. Wish crutwell would start. Another year in this awful league but it's obviously where we belong for now. Ashford changed their manager mid season and he really has done a great job there in such a short space of time yet we are constantly told that we are building for the future and need patience. Think agutter has done OK but maybe its the people higher up that need to change. Ridiculous that apart from Guernsey the best supported club can't get out of this league. Almost embarrassing. Pissed off.
Well played lads . Football is a cruel game. No team deserved to lose.
Great crowd 1120. just a shame the fans do not support the side like this every week.
Just wanted to thank the whole club,officials, volunteers for a great season. Every game we go to as a family the officials and players always make time for us.
Aggy and the coaching staff have done a fabulous job this season . The chairman and board have backed the club all season. Big shout out to Hayley for doing superb job. 2 unsung heroes phil g and his wife Barbara. Week after week raising funds for the club selling programmes and 50/50.
Tactically we were way off the mark tonight, very negative for a home side. We have the players but not the manager, just don’t think he gets what it takes at this level, playing 1 up front is hardly utiliizing our strengths. Where do we go from here, my guess is league will be stronger next year so we will need to raise a level.
Disappointed but clearly not as distraught as some !
Just one observation.....
While I fully appreciate the manager is determined the team will play a thoughtful passing game where keeping possession is all important, I can't help feeling it makes us rather predictable and easy to defend against.
If I think over, say, our last 10 matches the vast majority of goals have come from getting the ball forward quickly which just allows our forwards a bit more time and space to create something.
How many passes did we make yesterday ? Hundreds...but mostly sideways and backwards.
As an example, we won a number of free kicks in wide areas just inside our opponents half. Surely, this is the time to try to whip in the perfect ball that is so difficult to defend against ? Get a few players in and around the box and there's a fair chance we get a strike at goal. Instead, the ball is played backwards, then sideways, then back to the keeper, then to the other full back...and before long we have lost posssesiom in midfield long before the ball gets anywhere near the opponents' penalty area. At times there was an audible sigh of frustration from the supporters around me as we missed the opportunity to put their defence under any pressure from good dead ball positions.
Clearly this is why Crutts is out of favour because he wants to play that 50 yard killer pass. OK, often it results in us losing possession but occasionally it's the pass that unlocks an otherwise comfortable defence.
Next season, I want to see us mix up this rather laboured passing game with something more direct when the opportunity is there.
Rant over !
so disappointing to lose to a last minute penalty-very tough for the players who put in a huge effort. On a few spells of quality play from Hastings up against a well disciplined Ashford side who for me had a simple style of play which suited them. Back in January, we were noticeably better than Ashford at Homelands, just like we were better than Horsham. Certainly Ashford have improved with May and Parrish combining well. Our 2 centre halves dealt with them well for most of the game but, in retrospect, when May went off it might have been a good idea to replace Elphick with a quicker defender. It was no contest when Parrish was in a one to one with Gary as in the last minute. Good to be part of a large crowd- some Hastings exiles having travelled a long way ( Cornwall, Norfolk) just to be present. On Mick's point we were both present at Sittingbourne and watched Hastings play a very direct style making constant use of Ollie Black's long throws. We probably did something similar at Greenwich. Possibly we have too many changes in players and formation and playing style to be consistent. Going to be a long close season waiting to see how the team shapes up for next season.
I agree with much of what Mick has to say above. There are positives to the style of football which Chris wants to play, but for me and others it has been clear for a long time that it also creates multiple opportunities for error which a competent opposing side will exploit. To get out of a league such as ours you simply cannot have the number of off days and individual errors we have allowed ourselves this season. Ashford are an excellent example of how an effective side can be created quite quickly by a management team who focus on outcomes and getting the basics right.
There is one positive in our defeat last night - the preparation for next season can and should begin immediately. I expect next season's team to bear scant relationship to the one which started yesterday.
sad night when charlie came up and shook hands and thanks us for our support as this was his last game for hastings as the manager did not want him shame on him best keeper we have got
So a few hours on and the dust is starting to settle, I can give my honest assessment of both last night and the season in general.
A lot of the newer fans to Hastings have been extremely complimentary on social media to the efforts and achievements of the team this year, with some going right over the top as per usual, which of course should be respected as much as those opinions of the likes of Chris b. For me, a supporter of 40 years, I am rather disappointed with this season. I look at the manager in place, whom I rate very highly and must stay, and the squad we have, and honestly feel we have underachieved despite reaching the play off semi final. I don't agree with some fans and in fact even some players, who claim this season has been the best football for years at the Pilot Field. I go back just two seasons under Steve Watt and Darren hare and the football was more entertaining and we got a lot closer to promotion. It should also be added that those managers also had a considerably higher budget than Chris who if rumours are true, had budgets cut throughout the season.
After winning 9 of our first 10 games, and even the defeat at Hythe was a game we dominated for large periods, it looked like we had a team that could do a Folkestone, Burgess Hill or Dorking and run away with the league by Xmas. In this time there was the memorable win at Leiston with 8 men, 9 goals at East Grinstead, a win over Kingstonian and stunning performances over Horsham , Phoenix and a particular favourite of mine at Waltham Abbey. Then for me came a big turning point and that was the team selection and performance at a struggling Hitchin. We had a fantastic opportunity to go really deep in the competition but went into the game with Christie, Crutts, Lovatt and Ogboe all dropped and on the bench around rumours of poor performance in training. We ended up putting in a pretty poor performance despite some early chances and I think many were surprised we lost the game. After this game the team line ups started to become disrupted and the much discussed departures of Christie and Golding followed. Was it budget cuts, the manager or something else? I can only guess at budget cuts but whatever the reason it had an affect on form and results. From the 20/11 we drew one and lost five which saw us slide from top of the tree to the edge of the play offs. And so the rumour mill started and discontent starting to arise amongst the supporters with clear split in opinion between those newer supporters and those that had been supporting home and away for many years.
A return to form at Xmas/January saw us win four in a row but we then won just one game in seven which pretty much meant the title was gone and we were battling for the lottery of the play offs, something we achieved very comfortably in the end winning six and drawing two of our last eight in this topsy turvy season.
During the season we used 37 players in league and cup and saw some fan favourites such as Christie, Golding and Bamba all leave, and other players such as Mongoy, Crutts, Ogboe, Ibrahiym, Howlett Mundle, Vickers, Horlock, Climpson and Eweka, all go through some spells of really good form, followed by a drop off and then to disappear from the starting line up, for whatever reason.
We were told Bamba was the best winger in the league when he replaced Golding, but after a good start proved that Golding was by far the best winger in the league. We were told Horlock was the best keeper in the league but that has all got a bit messy although I am not to sure I would read to much into Ollies post....I may be wrong. We were also told the academy players were the best around and the team would be built on local talent. Panache and Ansu made one league appearance, Charlie Curran 3, James Pool 4, Sonny 7 and Climpson was then replaced by older loan players after a couple of mistakes.
The big positives were the electrifying goal scoring form of Daniel (Pre season some wally said he would never make a striker ) The return of Rodari who if he cuts out the play acting will have a great career. The development of Fielding and Lovatt and the resurgence of Jack Dixon. Sammy did was Sammy always does well but feel Crutts has not progressed as he should. He doesn't look happy and I think he badly needs a move despite being possibly our most naturally gifted player and one of my favourites.
So for me I'm slightly disappointed this season and think we blew it mid season with too many changes. If indeed this was down to budget restraints, whilst the likes of Ashford, Horsham, Cray brought in better players, then we have got all we deserve.
Looking at last nights squad I would expect nearly all to be gone next season and the rebuilding to start all over again. Possibly Rogers, Beale, Dixon, Adams, Rodari plus some academy players.....anyone expect any others to stay? I just hope Chris stays as well. People can think what they like but he's only young and like the players will learn so much from this season. He has to stay, and continue what he has started but will he have the backing from above?
As for last night, typical play off game. Edgy, nervous, poor quality for large parts of the game, poor ball retention, no cutting edge etc etc but you see it at every level of football in these high pressure games. Think Daniel should have started and think Stevenson should have been taken off early. His attitude and effort stunk to be honest and no different from when he played under Darren Hare. Azeez probably our MOM closely followed by Lovatt but apart from that not a lot to shout about. Think Ashford just about deserved the win and good luck to them on Friday against Horsham. I will be cheering on Horsham from afar as a big fan of Dom when he was at Hastings and of course with Josh Pelling in the ranks I really hope they can pull it off with the move to their new ground imminent. Assume if Ashford win its highly unlikely they can go up anyway with the PPG.
So another season comes to an end and the customary highs and lows of following Hastings over the years continue with great frustration. But ill be back end of August eagerly awaiting those fabulous trips to Three Bridges, East Grinstead and Sittingbourne once again hoping and preying we can get out of this bloody league.....hopefully with Chris at the helm.
-- Edited by johnw on Tuesday 30th of April 2019 01:39:43 PM
As always John spot on and a honest review. If it is true that most of the players will be leaving is then not again the same problem of starting all over again with a lot of new youngsters and facing the same issues...... Surely there will be progress but if you want to get out of this League you have and need more.
I can't really say much about last night and the season as a whole. I am absolutely gutted! We just can't seem to get out of this league. I said it at the start of the season and I'll say it now, but the only sure fire way out of it is to win it!! I really hope Chris stays though - if you look back since we were relegated, this is the highest we've finished. Roll on next season with Chris at the helm,and let's go for it!!
I can't really say much about last night and the season as a whole. I am absolutely gutted! We just can't seem to get out of this league. I said it at the start of the season and I'll say it now, but the only sure fire way out of it is to win it!! I really hope Chris stays though - if you look back since we were relegated, this is the highest we've finished. Roll on next season with Chris at the helm,and let's go for it!!
You are quite right Michael, but I thought at the begining of this season, we were going for it, but it did not happen.
So why should next season be any different, in what appears to be a even tougher league than this season.
I have no confidence that Chris will change his style of football. We will never win this division playing in this manner, as we will make too many mistakes and lose too many games. It’s just the nature of players at this level. But I’m not saying we will never win promotion but it will be via playoffs if we do.
The main concern re next season is Chris - assuming he's still here and I hope he is - if we lose several players from a very decent squad, he will have to start again. He will need time. And building a new side can take a couple of seasons. If we don't lose more than two or three then hopefully we can hit the ground running.
I detest the play off scenario. Let's win that league next season.
By my reckoning, which may be incorrect because it's very early, Ashford not only need to win on Friday but need two other results to go their way in order to be in line for promotion.
They require Cinderford to beat Yate and Brighouse to beat Pontefract. This would put Ashford in 5th place for points per match amongst the play off winners. HUFC would have required the same scenario.
I appreciate other factors may come into play that may affect all this.
I will try to get out more today.
Which of course would mean next season we would be up against Ashford and Horsham again and the likes of Burgess Hill and Whitehawk. Very tough looking already.
Indeed Mick. Ashford will be looking over their shoulders at games being played hundreds of miles away. The FA should hang heada in shame. Much as I hated losing to Ashford I wouldn't want to see their play off prospects wrecked by off pitch FA shenanigans.
Not much of an incentive for Brighouse or Cinderford knowing that if they win they definitely won't be promoted.
At least Ashford have a glimmer of hope though but won't be able to celebrate if they win until Monday when Yate take on Cinderford, unless of course Pontefract beat Brighouse on Saturday.
What a mess!
Not sure Dom was fully supported from the powers above but was certainly highly rated by most supporters and for those that don’t like passing out from the back, his teams play the same way as Chris’s and Cray may I add.
Yes, Dom had 3-4 seasons to get things right but interesting that he gained his fully deserved promotion without using academy players and teenagers. Had a experienced and settled squad with very few changes throughout the season whilst adding just the odd bit of quality with players such as Chris Smith and Lavery. Think he’s done a super job, as has Chris.
Well I'm certainly one who must be numbered amongst those who are sceptical of the merits of habitually attempting to play it out from the back; but when Dom was with us I was not especially critical of that - I was much more so of his then apparent belief that he could simply create a competitive side at our level from the very succesful County League side he had forged at East Preston.
I was though very sorry indeed to see him go so soon after joining. He clearly has great ability and I didn't doubt that he would modify aspects of his approach with experience to be succesful at our level. I think that was pretty much the general view of those contibuting to this forum. I don't recall either that there was much of a suggestion that the then (Dave Walters' regime) had pushed him out - it seemed to be his decision to leave - perhaps once again our supposed 'geographical isolation' was a factor. I congratulate his success with Horsham and wish him and them well.
As for Chris, I disagree with his current preferred style of play. I would much rather see us play like Ashford. More simple, more direct, more pressing. I would certainly like to see a settled experienced squad throughout the season - as John suggests - and I see that as more important than quibbles I might have about the style of play. I very much want Chris to stay. I think he will gain experience and he will ultimately be successful. We just cannot have the managerial rondabout we have had in the recent past!
My memory of Dom was similar to yours, Geoff.
I feel he was a really good guy but, as you say, he brought in quite a number of County players who, while outstanding at a lower level, never quite looked like making us a force in this league. There was one exception to that, Joe Shelley who I really rated and who I see has been a regular in the Horsham team.
I got the feeling that perhaps the dressing room became rather divided; Dom's boys from the west of the county being more in favour than the local lads. I recall it all seemed to unravel at Hythe around the New Year. I think we turned up with only one sub, put in a lacklustre performance with an extremely overweight striker who we never saw again and lost without Hythe having to break sweat.
That I think was the end of Dom and, while others may disagree, I really wasn't too bothered as I didn't feel he was going to take us anywhere. I felt maybe the departure was by mutual consent with DW.
However, best of luck to him at Horsham. With more managerial experience and more contacts at a higher level, I think he could have done a great job for us too.
Well It appears that ourselves would not have gone up anyway looking at the final PPG stats and probably would have been even more disappointing if we had won the final and then had been refused promotion.
-- Edited by Dan on Tuesday 7th of May 2019 09:54:38 AM
The FA's incompetent management of semi pro football is not confined to step 4 and the points per game manipulation of the play offs. National South and North relegate 3 teams each to step 3 (Bostik Prem etc). That's 6 teams down to 4 divisions which doesn't tally. Sooooo 4 champs go up leaving 2 play off promotion places. 4 premier play off winners then play "Super play off" finals which are Met Police vs Tonbridge and South Shields vs Kings Lynn. The two winners from those games go up to the National League. If National S and N had common sensibly relegated 4 teams each you'd have 8 down, 8 up and no need for "Super play offs". Common sense? The FA? Never the twain shall meet!
Must tardily correct my last post. The second "Super" play off final was Warrington Town vs Kings Lynn. Kings Lynn won that 3-2, Tonbridge winning by the same score at Met Police.
Strange how the management team of Tommy Warrilow and Alex O'Brien started the season at the Pilot Field with Thamesmead Town and ended it with Ashford winning the play off semi. Thought Ashford and Horsham both got stronger as the season progressed while I thought we were at our best in the first part of the season. Hope we have a good close season and return with a refreshed and rested squad.
) The return of Rodari who if he cuts out the play acting will have a great career. The development of Fielding and Lovatt and the resurgence of Jack Dixon. Sammy did was Sammy always does well but feel Crutts has not progressed as he should. He doesn't look happy and I think he badly needs a move despite being possibly our most naturally gifted player and one of my favourites.