Herne Bay FC Supporters’ Update 36 – 03/02/2020 The Match Preview from Hastings United: Hastings United’s league campaign continues on Tuesday 28th January with a visit from in-form Herne Bay. Last Saturday’s dramatic finale saw United score twice in the last ten minutes and rescue a point away to Sevenoaks Town. United fans heart rates will have just about settled down in time for this rearranged game which was postponed in December. Saturday’s result means United continued their unbeaten start to the new year, the draw going alongside four wins. The one-nil reverse at Ashford United remains the only league defeat. United found themselves two goals adrift at the weekend for the first time this season, indeed it is only the second time they have conceded more than one goal in a league game. Away to Guernsey being the other. On both occasions a belligerent refusal to accept defeat has seen United recover and claim a point. With Ashford losing on Saturday, the Sevenoaks draw meant the ‘U’s extended their lead at the top to five points. Herne Bay are displaying some form of their own. In their last six games they have won four, drawn one and lost one. This includes impressive away victories at Cray Valley and Guernsey. On Saturday they won 2 – 0 at home to Chichester City. This form has seen them climb to 6th in the table sitting just outside the play-off places. Actually, they are level on points with the teams in 4th and 5th, and with this game in hand to come. Similar to Sevenoaks, this is a team who will score goals (39) but can also concede (33). This is United’s long-standing game in hand and, with a 100% home league record, it’s a fantastic opportunity to open up an eight- point lead. They will want to take full advantage. However, as mentioned, Herne Bay are clearly not daunted by difficult away games. They’ve won five times on the road already, which is one more than United. Plus, this is their own game in hand and if they leave the Pilot Field with a point, or all three, they’ll move into a play-off position. Both teams have big incentives and it is shaping up to be a game not to be missed. Ben Smith: “Hastings is the side that everyone looks at as maybe running away with the league, so we will be heavy underdogs. We need to go there with the confidence that we have at the minute and show the belief. It’s exciting to be in those type of games.” Tuesday 28th Hastings United A D 0-0 510 January 2020 Herne Bay: George Kamurasi, Ryan Cooper, Dan Carrington, Laurence Harvey, Callum Adonis-Taylor, Bola Dawodu (Kyron Lightfoot 71), Tushaun-Tyreese Walters, Tom Carlton, Zak Ansah, Danny Lawrence, Keiron Campbell (Chris Saunders 87). Hastings United: Louis Rogers, Ollie Black, Jerald Aboagye (Sam Beale), Gary Elphick, Craig Stone, Daniel Ajakaiye, Sam Adams, Ryan Worrall (James Pool), Lanre Azeez, Jack Dixon, Ben Pope (Kenny Pogue). Two precautionary changes were announced with Patrick Nzuzi and Danny Lawrence dropping to the bench with Dan Carrington and Bola Dawodu starting. Then Anthony Edgar was injured in the warm-up giving a start to Lawrence. Herne Bay moved into the play-off places with a goalless draw at top of the table Hastings, who had not dropped a point at home in their previous 10 league outings, but there was a feeling that it could, and probably should, have been all three points for the visitors. With just one defeat from the last ten league matches (six wins and three draws) Bay are in an excellent position. The second consecutive match with a clean sheet and no bookings is also a satisfying statistic. Ben Smith: “A really good performance, I thought the defensive shape was outstanding and we nullified the threats and qualities that they possess. They are a good footballing side, but we were spot on on the day and they were found wanting. They were looking for a Plan B and that Plan B couldn’t break us down. Apart from Big G’s triple save in the first half there wasn’t really a moment when they dominated our area. So, a fully deserved point. Could we have nicked it? Maybe, but I am sure that they could say the same. A good 0-0 for the neutral, but not the best for the managers and their heartrates.” 1 In the 14th minute Hastings’ Jack Dixon collected and fired in a shot forcing George Kamurasi into a full-length dive to parry away. The rebound fell to Ben Pope whose shot bounced clear off Kamurasi’s legs. Seconds later the ball landed with Pope again and in an exact repeat his shot hit the goalkeeper’s legs again. Seven minutes later Tom Carlton was in rampaging mood twice testing Louis Rogers between the sticks for Hastings. United put their best move of the half together on the stroke of half-time. Adams, Jarod Aboagye and Lanre Azeez worked their way down the right and into the area. Aboagye seemed to be fouled and as the penalty claims were waved away Azeez was upended on the very edge of the box. The referee appeared to award a penalty based upon his assistants’ raised flag but after a brief consultation reverted to a free kick for the foul on Azeez. The resulting cross was cleared. The two teams exchanged chances at the start of the second period. Sam Adams strike was over the bar for the home side with Zak Ansah’s reply being turned over by Rogers and just after the hour Gary Elphick headed just past the upright from a corner. Keiron Campbell’s cross was deflected producing yet another save from Rogers. Herne Bay then created the best chance of the game. Tushaun-Tyreese Walters sped to the by-line, delivered a low cross to Ansah and somehow his shot, from inside the six- yard box, was kept out by Rogers or the bar, or maybe a combination of the two. With 20 minutes left on the clock Bola Dawodu went down injured and with an essential piece of medical equipment in the form of a stretcher not readily available he was carried all the way back to the dressing room by Kamurasi. To add further embarrassment to the Sussex side some of their players then complained to the referee that Big G had left the field of play without permission and on his return he received a torrent of foul abuse by some behind his goal. Two minutes into the four added on Herne Bay had the last chance of the game when Freeman saved Lightfoot’s shot and again kept out Chris Saunders from the rebound. Ben Smith continued: “It just shows how far we have come. I would say to the supporters that it is a big month in February, eight games, there is going to be some speed bumps along the way, we are going to hit a block in the road so it is important that they stay positive and keep behind us. We don’t need any moaning and groaning and slagging off. Let’s get that out of everyone’s mindset now. We are in a position where we can fight for a play-off spot. If we had said that at the start of the year everyone would have bitten our hands off. Let’s take our position, embrace it and enjoy it. There is no need to be stressed and upset with things, it is all about enjoyment now and being positive because we have a good opportunity and things are good at the minute. There is strength and depth to the squad, and everyone is putting good performances in.” 2 A selection of photos courtesy of Hastings United FC: Comments from the Hastings’ United FC Fans Forum: “Probably a fair result, Herne Bay useful side, one of the best seen this season.” “Yet another tough match against in-form opponents who made us work hard for a point.” “Lucky to come away with a point, HB were a very tough team.” “At times agreed with the Herne Bay chants of "Boring, boring Hastings." “It certainly was good to have a proper game last night.” And from the obligatory idiot who seems oblivious to the fact that there are 22 players on the pitch and seems only to notice the performance of the match officials: “What it with the refs ffs he doesn't give a blatant penalty then the linesman flags for a foul then the ref gives a penalty then gose over to the linesman and gives a free kick wft is going on and not giving another penalty when the defender plays it with there arm its becoming a joke now.” On Big George heroically replacing the absent stretcher: “Three decent saves in short succession in the first half, followed in the second by carrying an injured team-mate from the field, cradling him in his arms like a small child being rescued from a burning building. Having taken him down the tunnel and into the dressing room, he returned to applause from most of the ground, except, of course, the mob behind the goal who preferred bellowing "DROP DEAD, YOU C***" and similar "banter" at him instead.” There ensued a discussion regarding the behaviour of some of the Hastings crowd: 3 “…the 'banter' was expletive after expletive, will hardly encourage families to attend and create a community atmosphere.