Last Update: 7th February 2004
Att: 501
ElsewhereAnother batch of local derbies on New Year's Day, although some, ours for example, were more local than others, Stamford v Banbury for example. Here are all of the results. Ashford Town 2 v 2 Burgess Hill TownChatham Town 1 v 1 Sittingbourne Eastleigh 3 v 0 Burnham Erith & Belvedere 0 v 4 Folkestone Invicta Fisher Athletic 2 v 1 Dartford Fleet Town 1 v 5 Bashley Hastings United 1 v 5 Tonbridge Angels Histon 1 v 4 King's Lynn Rothwell Town 0 v 1 Corby Town Salisbury City 2 v 0 Newport IoW Stamford 3 v 3 Banbury United The consolation for us after our latest setback was that the bottom four sides all lost as well. Rothwell were beaten by a late goal, which took Corby level on points with ourselves (bizarrely, they have a worse goal difference though). Richard Gillespie scored all five of Bashley's goals that kept Fleet second from bottom and defeats for Erith and Burnham meant that they remained more than a win behind us. Fisher moved above us and Dartford, after edging a close encounter. Tonbridge retained their five point lead at the top and King's Lynn are now clear in second after their fine win at Histon, who are now level on points with Salisbury. Eastleigh are still in the hunt in fifth and Folkestone have moved into the top six and have games in hand to go third. King's Lynn's hero was Carl Holmes, who grabbed a hattrick in front of the biggest crowd of the day, 961, most of whom would have been away supporters I should imagine. There were 701 at the Salisbury game, with our own 501 the third biggest Eastern Division attendance of the day. Putting the rest to shame though were the 4,116, who turned up to watch the 2-2 draw between Dorchester and Weymouth in the Premier Division. That was only about 400 more than saw Dorchester's 8-0 drubbing at the hands of the same opponents on Boxing Day. The point kept Weymouth's six point advantage in tact, as Crawley were held to a goalless draw by Welling in front of an impressive 1,640 at Broadfield. Nuneaton's 2-1 win at home to Cambridge took them third, just ahead of Stafford, who won 1-0 at Worcester in front of 1,521. Eastbourne's game at home to Havant & Waterlooville was postponed, but they stayed in fourteenth place, but are now just six points clear of the 'relegation' zone. There was no action in the Sussex County League or in the Go Travel Kent League on New Year's Day, but there are league programmes in each on Saturday, including Rye & Iden United taking on Sidley United at The Salts and Eastbourne Town at home to St Leonards. Westfield are also in Eastbourne, taking on United Association. Of course, none of that is important, because anyone unable to follow the first team up at Gravesend, against Dartford, at the weekend, will be at The Pilot Field for the Reserves' Hastings Intermediate Cup tie against Rock-a-Nore. I am pleased to say that I will be able to get to Stonebridge Road after all, so a full report on the first team game, whatever I can find out about the Reserve team game and the usual trawl through the local leagues will be online some time on Sunday, Karl's time permitting of course. Sean Adams
Att: 246
ElsewhereAs I have already mentioned, Saturday's results didn't exactly go our way and Corby's draw at home to Fleet took them a point ahead of us in the table. It took two goals in the last two minutes to earn it though, after Fleet had built a good lead. The attendance of just 57 equalled the lowest Eastern Division crowd of the season. Erith & Belvedere also gave up a two goal lead at Burnham, who equalised in stoppage time. Rothwell produced the shock of the day, winning easily at Sittingbourne, to move off the bottom. Fisher twice led but had to settle for a point at Newport, so Dartford's win took them back up a place. At the top, Tonbridge were without a game and their lead was cut to just two points by King's Lynn, for whom Dale Watkins netted a hattrick in a surprisingly easy win over Chatham in front of 893 spectators. Histon got back to winning ways, but Salisbury dropped a couple of points at Folkestone, where they too needed a stoppage time equaliser. Eastleigh kept in touch with the leaders with Banbury now losing ground and only just ahead of Bashley. Banbury United 1 v 2 EastleighBashley 1 v 0 Ashford Town Burgess Hill Town 0 v 1 Histon Burnham 2 v 2 Erith & Belvedere Corby Town 2 v 2 Fleet Town Dartford 3 v 0 Hastings United Folkestone Invicta 2 v 2 Salisbury City King's Lynn 6 v 0 Chatham Town Newport IoW 2 v 2 Fisher Athletic Sittingbourne 0 v 3 Rothwell Town No doubt about the game of the day in the Premier Division as the top two clashed down in Dorset, with Crawley emerging 1-0 winners. Gavin Holligan got the goal in the first half, but the hero was full back Ian Payne, who ended up in goal after Andy Little was sent off, and promptly saved a Steve Claridge penalty to preserve the advantage. Weymouth's lead is now cut to three points and Crawley have a game in hand as well. Nuneaton and Stafford both lost ground, while a six match unbeaten run has taken Dover up to fifth. Eastbourne managed a goalless draw at Cambridge, but still dropped a place to fifteenth. It was points all round for our local sides in the Sussex County League. The derby at The Salts ended in a 1-1 draw between Rye & Iden United and Sidley United. The visitors took the lead through Adam Day with just ten minutes left, but Shaun Loft's very late penalty earned Rye & Iden a share of the spoils. Much as it pains me to type it, hats must go off to St Leonards, who won 3-1 at Eastbourne Town, having gone one down in the fifth minute. Second half goals from Sean Ray, Michael Morgan and one of the Olorundas gave the Saints their first win since early November. Eastbourne missed a golden chance to close the gap on leaders Chichester, who were beaten 2-1 at home by Arundel. In the second division, Westfield drew 3-3 at Eastbourne United Association, three times coming from a goal behind, with strikes from Sam Jamison, Dominic Clarke and Darroll Parris. There was no action at The Pilot Field on Saturday, where the Reserves were due to take on Rock-a-Nore in the Hastings Intermediate Cup. A frozen pitch put paid to that one and the game will have to be rearranged. In the Kent League Division One, Dover won 3-1 at Corinthian to keep things interesting at the top of the table. Dover are now three behind Corinthian and three ahead of us, with fourteen games each played. As for next weekend, the first team are without a fixture due to King's Lynn's continued involvement in the FA Trophy. The Reserves are due to play a league game at Herne Bay and I wonder if there may be a temptation to give some of the first team players a run in that one, given our sudden string of poor results. The Sussex County League computer has contrived to give all of our local sides away games next week. Rye & Iden visit Shoreham, St Leonards go to Three Bridges, Sidley to Oakwood and Westfield to Broadbridge Heath. What the hell to do then I wonder? Eastbourne Borough are away to Tiverton, not that I would seriously consider going over there just for a league game. The Trophy does throw up some intriguing ties, Lewes v Weymouth, Folkestone v Stevenage, Barnet v Dover and even Dagenham & Redbridge v Crawley. But no, I can see a day of quality time spent with the family looming. Better warn them I suppose. Sean Adams
Midweek ReportFirst of all, some excellent news, from my point of view anyway. The Reserves absolutely vital Hastings Intermediate Cup tie at home to Rock-a-Nore has been rearranged for this coming Saturday. With none of the local sides due to be in home action this weekend, I was facing an afternoon of bottles and nappies, of Buckaroo and Junior Scrabble, and of trying to convince the missus that darts is actually a tense and exciting televisual feast, not just a bunch of overweight alcoholics throwing pointy things at a wall. To say that I was overjoyed when Tony Cosens advised me that Rock-a-Nore were not prepared to agree to play the game midweek would do a severe disservice to overjoyment. At least it will give me something relevant to write about in my weekend report. The Reserves were due to be away to Herne Bay in the league and I had speculated as to whether any of the first team squad might be asked to play in the game. Somehow, I doubt whether Steve Lovell would sanction such a move for what is a fairly low-key encounter, but you never know. Just for the record, Rock-a-Nore compete in the Premier Division of the Sussex Memorials East Sussex League and currently lie sixth out of ten teams, having taken fourteen points from nine games. Quite how strong their league is, in comparison to the Go Travel Kent League Division One, I guess we'll maybe find out on Saturday. On the player front, I mentioned in my report after the Dartford game, that Mark Lovell had been warming up with the lads before kick off and I took this to be a sign that he would be back playing again shortly. It would appear that I was a little hasty in this assessment, as Tony believed that he was due to see a specialist on Monday and it remains likely that his knee will require an operation, which would prevent his return to action for several more weeks. Apparently, he is able to run, despite the injury, but he is still having trouble turning on it and kicking with the affected leg. Forget about that one then. Lee Hockey's arrival from Gravesend & Northfleet has been about the only positive thing to occur over the holiday period as far as the club is concerned. The Observer reported that he had joined us from Gravesend Reserves, but there was clearly no fee involved and Lee is neither on loan nor on contract. He is simply available for as long as Steve Lovell wants to keep him and, if his first two games are anything to go by, I imagine that he will be wanted for as long as possible. After his red card against Tonbridge, he will have to sit out the trip to Stamford on 17 January, but only that one game. Carl Rook's booking in the Tonbridge match was his fifth of the season and Tony is currently waiting to hear from the Football Association as to whether he is to serve a suspension as well. If so, I guess it will be just the one match as well though. No action at The Pilot Field this midweek and just the one match in the Eastern Division, Burgess Hill drawing 2-2 at home to Folkestone on Wednesday, having been two up at half time, Invicta's equaliser coming in stoppage time. Up in the Premier on Tuesday, Crawley missed the chance to go level on points with Weymouth, when they lost 1-0 at Grantham. The win took Grantham up three places and, as a consequence, pushed Eastbourne down to sixteenth. Borough's poor form continued with a 2-1 defeat at Welling in the third round of the League Cup. Welling will be away to Crawley in the fourth round and Chippenham will visit Tiverton after a 4-0 win at Newport County. In the County League, Eastbourne beat Ringmer 2-0 to close to within a point of East Preston and six behind leaders Chichester. Sidley's trip to Hailsham on Tuesday was postponed and rearranged for 20 January. Sean Adams.
Witcomb 36, Seymour 51 Att: 92
ElsewhereAlthough the designated first team were able to enjoy a day off, they will not have been too enamoured to learn that we had dropped another place in the league standings after those fixtures that did take place on Saturday. Burnham's victory over Rothwell took them above us on goal difference and we now stand in nineteenth place, six points ahead of those two potential relegation places. Indeed, had Burnham not been deducted three points recently, they would have overhauled us sooner of course. Some consolation will come from the fact that Rothwell lost and remain in the bottom two, still just ahead of Fleet, thumped at home by Stamford, who we visit next weekend, for whom Kevin Byrne scored all four goals. And Erith & Belvedere's defeat at Chatham was also good news from our point of view. At the top, Tonbridge moved five points clear of King's Lynn after recovering from a goal down to win at Banbury. Salisbury's win took them third, but Eastleigh's surprise loss at Corby saw them lose ground. Eight games were played in all and the results are below. Banbury United 1 v 3 Tonbridge AngelsBurnham 2 v 0 Rothwell Town Chatham Town 3 v 2 Erith & Belvedere Corby Town 1 v 0 Eastleigh Fisher Athletic 1 v 2 Ashford Town Fleet Town 0 v 4 Stamford Newport IoW 1 v 1 Burgess Hill Town Salisbury City 3 v 0 Sittingbourne Only five games in the Premier Division on Saturday and one of them saw Eastbourne end their poor run with a 3-2 victory at Tiverton. Ian Pulman opened the scoring for Borough in the fourth minute and, after a Tiverton equaliser, Ollie Rowland made it 2-1 just past the quarter hour mark. Scott Ramsay added another just before the hour and a stoppage time goal provided the home side with mere consolation. That rare win took Eastbourne up one place to fifteenth in the table. Of the top six, only Nuneaton played, losing 2-1 at Welling, so it's as you were at the business end. We have seen some pretty wild games and results at The Pilot Field, and on our travels, this season, although nothing that comes close to matching events at The Dripping Pan on Saturday, where Lewes and Weymouth produced a thirteen goal thriller in their FA Trophy third round tie. Steve Claridge got the ball rolling as the visitors took a two goal lead, only for Lewes to come back to level, and Weymouth to retake the lead after twenty minutes. On the hour mark, Lewes equalised again, but within three minutes were 5-3 down, before pulling one more back. Weymouth added two more, before Lewes grabbed a fifth and then Weymouth an eighth in the last minute. Whatever would Alan Hansen have said? As far as upsets were concerned, Ryman League leaders Canvey Island walloped the Conference strugglers Farnborough 6-0, although that one probably went to form in the end. Stafford of the Dr Martens Premier recorded an outstanding 2-1 success away to Scarborough of the Conference, who could perhaps be forgiven for having their minds on their FA Cup replay with Southend this week, which could net them a home fourth round tie with Chelsea. Marine from the Unibond Premier beat Conference side Northwich 1-0 and well done King's Lynn, whose devastation at missing a trip to The Pilot Field will have been eased slightly by a 3-1 win over Basingstoke of the Ryman Premier. Histon faired less well, beaten by the same score at home to Maidenhead, also of the Ryman Premier. Crawley managed a fine goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge, but Worthing are the only Sussex side through to the fourth round, after a 3-0 win at home to Taunton. The results in full are below. Telford United P v P Alfreton TownShrewsbury Town 2 v 0 Morecambe Altrincham 2 v 1 Runcorn FC Halton Scarborough 1 v 2 Stafford Rangers Hednesford Town 2 v 0 Gresley Rovers Leigh RMI 1 v 1 Stalybridge Celtic Blyth Spartans 1 v 0 Barrow Chester City 1 v 2 Halifax Town Burton Albion 4 v 2 Accrington Stanley Marine 1 v 0 Northwich Victoria Guiseley 0 v 2 Worksop Town Hucknall Town 1 v 0 Bradford Park Avenue Burscough 0 v 1 Tamworth Bishop's Stortford 2 v 4 Aldershot Town King's Lynn 3 v 1 Basingstoke Town Gravesend & Northfleet 2 v 2 Weston-super-Mare Dorchester Town 2 v 2 Margate Folkestone Invicta 1 v 3 Stevenage Borough Hornchurch 2 v 0 Aylesbury United Kettering Town 0 v 0 Woking Exeter City 3 v 2 Hereford United Marlow 3 v 1 Ford United Barnet 3 v 2 Dover Athletic Forest Green Rovers 4 v 0 Sutton United Histon 1 v 3 Maidenhead United Lewes 5 v 8 Weymouth Wealdstone 3 v 2 Thurrock Canvey Island 6 v 0 Farnborough Town Hayes 2 v 2 Arlesey Town Dagenham & Redbridge 0 v 0 Crawley Town Staines Town 1 v 0 Bath City Worthing 3 v 0 Taunton Town Not a very pleasant day for the locals in the County League. Rye & Iden did best of all by not playing as their game at Shoreham fell victim to a waterlogged pitch. St Leonards got back to losing ways, going down 2-0 at Three Bridges and Sidley suffered a 6-2 hiding at the hands of second division Oakwood in their Sussex RUR Cup quarter final. They were already four down when Shae Spreafico and Adam Day scored either side of half time but the embarrassment didn't end there unfortunately. In the second division itself, Westfield lost 4-0 at Broadbridge Heath and even Bexhill United lost, 3-2 at home to Eastbourne Borough Reserves in the fourth round of the Sussex Intermediate Cup. Back in the first division, the leaders Chichester were held 1-1 at home by Ringmer and Hassocks put nine past Selsey without reply. Rye & Iden remain sixth, with St Leonards fourteenth and Sidley sixteenth. Westfield have slipped to ninth in the second division. So, to next Saturday, when the first team embark on what must surely be their longest trip of the season, paying a visit to Stamford in Lincolnshire. Stamford must be worried sick at the prospect of facing us on the back of our three game losing streak, which has seen us concede fourteen goals and score three. Then again, Stamford haven't been in sparkling form themselves of late and their win at Fleet was their first in six games, although that run saw them take on five of the top seven teams in the division, and they are due to take on Erith & Belvedere at home on Tuesday evening. After his four goal burst at Fleet, Kevin Byrne now has fourteen for the season, which puts him top five in the scorers list and with our defence due to be missing Lee Hockey through suspension next week, it doesn't look overly promising. That said, if history is anything to go by, which it isn't, we should do quite well, never having lost against Stamford in our six meetings, winning all three home games and one at The New Flame Stadium. Their's is a ground that I have not managed to get to before (although I recall driving quite close to it on the way home from Spalding a couple of years back) and I am not going to get there this year either I'm afraid. I will pinch some details from Tony Cosens' Newsline report and, together with the news of the Reserves' league game at home to Dartford, which I will be attending, that will form the basis of next weekend's report. For the midweek effort, I am going to try and find out some more about this Tony Carter chap, who is rumoured to be buying into the club, and why he is alleged to be such a bad sort. I feel terribly naive for not knowing the name, but at least I have a bit to go on, unless anyone out there can save me the bother. I will keep my eyes peeled on the Guestbook for another couple of days at least, lest someone should help me out. Sean Adams And Simon Stoddart submitted this earlier in the week: DEPRESSION OVER HASTINGSI stopped going to United games after the depressing FA Cup exit at the hands of Bracknell at the end of August. My reasons were made amply clear on this site at the time. While I no longer go to games I do still follow United's fortunes via this site of which Karl and Sean are collectively making a thoroughly good job. And guestbook readers will know I quite often waffle in that medium as well as the unbelievably inadequate official site's forum. And halfway through a grim 03/04 here's some more for you. Occasionally I bump into somebody in the town who I know from football and we chat about what's going on at The Pilot Field. And most of it's pretty depressing. Nothing more so than my encounter with an old Pilot Field mate the other day. Now - I started going up Elphinstone Road in 1976 - 27 years of fluctuating fortunes on the footballing front - the ups and downs of United Mark 1, the bitter disappointment of the "U's" going belly up in 1985, getting used to Hastings Town, those close promotion calls in the late 80s, the 91/92 championship, Peter Sillett, Dean White and Garry Wilson at the helm, the struggles to stay in the Premier in the mid 90's, the unbelievable involvement of two Lottery millionaires, the shameful attempts by whoever it was in 99 to kill off Hastings Town, rulebook relegation by the League, regrouping in the Eastern Division, euphoria at Wisbech at the end of 01/02, the death by a thousand cuts of 02/03 and now the real possibility of Bumpkinship derbies with the Stains next season - a Stains side who themselves aren't comfortably clear of the prospect of County League Div 2 football next August. 27 years is nothing compared to some. No names mentioned - but my old mate who I saw the other day hasn't been back at all this season. He likes his cricket - and that combined with the depression following last season's relegation and the close season Pilot Field blues plus the poor results this season have all conspired to keep him away though he, like me, still keeps an eye on things from afar. He was one of a group of half a dozen that were there throughout the season - and quite a few away games too. He'd been a Pilot Field regular since 1959 - 44 years with a few years in the middle away through work. The other members of that group don't go any more either. There are other supporters who were there when Hastings United played their first game back in 1948. Yeah - I'm a boy compared to some of you guys. Certainly in the time I followed football in Hastings things have NEVER been as grim and depressing as they are now. Playing resources are unbelievably depleted and United find themselves in the Eastern Division with it's generally poor standard - certainly poor compared to the Premier - unable to buy a clean sheet, looking certain to finish with a three figure number in the goals against column and just half a dozen points away from the bottom two and it's exit visa to County Bumpkinship football. A savaged playing budget - and last season's was very modest compared to other Premier clubs, certainly less than half the £6000 a week Ilkeston were paying on gates lower than ours - has left Steve Lovell fighting for scraps as he does his best with his Parental Guidance aged squad. Steve's preseason intent to aim for the top two needs a little tinkering with - forget the top two - just aim away from the bottom two....... I remember saying to Phil Donaldson back in August as the depressing situation became apparent that I'd try and treat each game as a pre season where the result didn't matter and that even if we did lose loads of games it wouldn't be the end of the world because it was all part of the wider picture and that Lovers was going to build a decent squad from scratch etc etc etc. But I couldn't hack it and losing all those players - especially the spine of the side to bloody Eastbourne (1200 odd games between Playford, Simmonds and Yates) - was the final straw. I stuck it out through those relegation scraps in the 90s - 500 odd mile round trips for sod all to places like Gresley Rovers, having to kick off in the Eastern for non footballing reasons in 99/00 and I hardly missed a game last season - but losing all those players was too much to take this season. It was - in footballing terms - the break up of a family. How many others have called it a day? Having asked that question I really do believe that for all the general bloody indifference in this town (FA Cup glitz at plush Stevenage notwithstanding), attendances have held up tremendously well at United. And those supporters deserve better - far better. As do those who've been driven out by all the depressing goings on of the last year or so. RUMOURS, QUESTIONS, FACTS, ANSWERSAnd don't supporters have a right to know just what direction HUFC is being taken in? Last season - Stafford Rangers attend the relegation wake that was our last game of what had ended up a hugely depressing 02/03 - and Mick Maplesden announces he's calling it a day at half time. Be in no doubt about it - were it not for the money sunk into the club by Messrs Gardiner and Maplesden (and that surely has to be half a million between them) over the last six or seven years - were it not for those two guys, we wouldn't have a club to be depressed about. Sadly though - despite all that financial input (other semi pro clubs must be looking on at what's happened here with incredulity), the club's present situation on the field is as grim as it's ever been and Bumpkinship football - as stated earlier - is looming big time. Mick Maplesden said back in April he was no longer going to be involved - and his health problems combined with the stress and strain of football let alone the drain on finances were very sound and understandable reasons for him moving on. But has he moved on? Football thrives on rumours - people mutter about this and that - a lot of it is utter cobblers - but there are whispers doing the rounds that there are people who want to see things change at The Pilot Field, people who want to take over*, people who are unable to do so because the ownership questions surrounding HUFC still remain unresolved despite Mick saying he wasn't going to be involved anymore eight months ago. There was talk of him wanting £100,000 for his shares in the club. Just how much are shares in a semi pro football club ever going to be worth - especially in these days when the game up to the highest level has had to take a big reality check. Look no further than Leeds United - and had Abramovich not taken over Chelsea when he did, they might well have been even deeper in the shit than Leeds. Whatever - talk is that there are people who want to do something about the current appalling situation at The Pilot Field but are unable to proceed until this ownership business is sorted out. (Simon has asked me to point out that this was written before the current rumours of a take over were announced, and he didn't know any more than the rest of us - KH) Nothing appears in the Observer or the Sports Argus - we know sod all appears on the official website - we hear nothing from HUFC about the club's off pitch management's views on what lies ahead. Right now, United are heading for County League football next season - the County Bumpkinship league where they can't organise fixtures more than a month at a time, where the fixtures when you do get them show you haven't got a home game for the month ahead (as Stains supremo Bowyer not unreasonably complained about recently), where clubs have six games in hand with four months of the season left, the league that makes the DM League look good, the league that hands out bans in days rather than games - yeah, those Bumpkinship derbies with the Stains are a real threat. Doesn't all this look a bit at odds with around a year ago when United were showing a real interest in the new Conference set up that kicks off in August - to the extent that the £1750 admission fee requested by the Conference was despatched so we wouldn't miss out? We missed out alright - three months or so later the club had sat on it's hands and all the good work of 01/02 had been undone, the inadequate managerial team of Wakeling and Flanagan had been given far too much slack (they should've been out at the end of February at the latest) and the club had duly been hung out back in the Eastern Division where another relegation battle is underway with United half a dozen points off the bottom two. What it all seems to boil down to is the ownership of the club. Mick Maplesden put a massive amount of money into Town/United, we can thank him for the very existence of the club today - and the improvements to the Pilot Field infrastructure - new turnstile blocks, extended clubhouse, clubshop and teabar. From what I hear the ball is in Mick's court now as to how things progress and I'm sure all supporters - present and absent - hope that the ownership issue can be sorted out and that HUFC can put this last grim year or so where it belongs and start aiming upwards again. THE MIKE COLE STANDA classic example of people wanting to get things done only to find their efforts grinding to a halt in that HUFC generated inertia. So what, you've heard it before - it's still a valid point. The Supporters' Committee of which the late Mike Cole was one of the hardest working and most dedicated put together properly costed, realistic plans for a three tier, covered terrace at The Wood End, work that they would've largely been able to do themselves. At around £6000-£7000 it was an attainable target, naming it after Mike was a tremendous idea and not far off half the money had already been raised. But the idea's died a death and supporters still get wet behind that goal. In an ideal world the club would've said "Go for it" - it would be self financing and it would provide a decent, close up, covered viewing facility at the wide open Pilot Field where the only shelter is miles away from the action. Update supporters in the programme on how much had been raised, show them drawings of what was proposed - use the official website (choke, splutter, gag) to inform supporters - dream on. At the Fans' Forum back in the Summer supporters were told there was a sum of money an an account somewhere that had been put aside for a new Wood End stand. I think the Supporters' Committee has some put away - I can't recall the exact details of what was said at the time. But I do know that I put a grand in last season - £500 initially from the fanzine and then another £500 towards the application to join the new Conference. Give the club credit where due - when relegation happened I was asked if I wanted that £500 back and I asked for it to be put towards the stand appeal. Other people have put money in in good faith and all we've ended up with is a repeat of 12/13 years ago when the Wood End stand appeal of that era died a death with what had been raised being ploughed into the refurbishment of the covered terrace at the Elphinstone Road end. Nobody implies that untoward things have happened with the money - but Hastings Town mishandled the whole thing back in 90 or when ever by not properly informing supporters what was going on and here we are 13 years on and the same thing is happening again. PR is a bullshit industry, it's a bullshit expression - but this is a PR cock up of big proportions. What we've ended up with is in stark contrast to what isn't an unreasonable second paragraph of this article. ON THE PITCHAnd what about things as they stand? Well - I thought back in the Summer that getting Steve Lovell in as manager was just about the only bright aspect of a depressing close season in which the club's seemingly unresolved ownership situation can hardly have helped matters. But I read what Steve says in the Observer and the Argus - I don't read what he says on the official website because the club has completely lost the plot on what an official website is all about and his views don't appear on it - and what he says just doesn't tally up with the numbers - and numbers tell the story. 59 goals conceded already (after the Dartford defeat) - worst defence in the league - 20 points, only 6 points above the relegation zone, goal difference of -28 already, 40 odd players used, letting in 6 goals to a Burgess Hillbilly side we were two divisions higher than a season ago, a five year plan to build a decent side, planning for a top two finish this season - etc etc etc. Five year plan? We've heard that one before - and as for Steve getting that amount of time to build up a good title winning squad - just how many managers get that? A number flying around at half time during that Stafford game last season was the proposed playing budget for this season was reputedly half our Premier budget - in itself, then, modest compared to many other sides at that level. The budget at Tonbridge this season - until their main sponsor pulled out recently - was around three times the HUFC figure, I hear. Just as an aside - the equivalent of around two and a half seasons of the current Hastings United playing budget goes into the currently inactive Senor Veron's bulging pockets every week at Stamford Bridge. Talk about them and us. And how much of United's very limited resources go to Steve Lovell? Does the playing budget include the manager's money and if it does, is it true that he is one of the best paid managers in the Eastern Division - and better paid than some in the Premier - and if the answer to both questions is yes, then that begs another obvious question - why? Steve has commitments at Gillingham - and there has been at least one occasion when his selectorial policy has raised various eyebrows - raised even more when it transpires he wasn't at the game in question. His goals kept Hastings Town in the Premier nine years ago, his management credentials were given a big boost by his success on a reduced budget at cash strapped Sittingbourne - but surely the club (all the more so if it does turn out he is a top earning Eastern Division boss) should have got someone in who wouldn't miss games because of other commitments. And there surely have to be questions over his 99% reliance on youngsters when one would think that a couple or three experienced, older faces would've helped. Since the season's started we've seen Tony Burt and Duncan McArthur go - whatever they were being paid could have gone towards another experienced centre back, some of the young uns who aren't up to DM Eastern standards could move on thus freeing up a few quid towards paying for an old hand. Look at Paul Stark - last season's Eastbourne Boro keeper (and haven't we had problems in that department this season?) - he can't get in Garry Wilson's side, he's been out on loan at the Hillbillies - couldn't we have made a move for him? And I keep coming back to those three who went to Eastbourne - three players with 1200 odd games between them for Town and United, three players who could've been spot on in fulfilling requirements for an experienced hardcore around which to build a new young team. I really can't recall when Messrs Playford, Simmonds and Yates moved in relation to the arrival of Steve as manager, he may well have had nothing to do with the loss of those three guys - but what a cock up to see them kick off 03/04 in Boro colours. Couldn't some effort have been made to see if they could be accomodated in the new, reduced budget? How much all of this can be laid at Steve Lovell's door - or at the club in general's - I don't know. But - laugh if you will, and I know some will - I suspect we'd be doing no worse if a team of Terry White and Jack Dalton, or Jack and Terry - were in charge. In fact I think we'd be doing better. The playing budget at Hastings is surely far more compared to what Terry had at Fort Fun - he admits he cocked up going there and even if he has come out with some old bollocks since (he came out with some classic smuggery after the Stains win in the mud in February 02) - I really believe Terry would give everything to United. The same for Jack. And if that talk of what Steve is being paid is true - then you can be sure there'd be a bit more available for what matters - players who can cut it and arrest that slide to Bumpkinship oblivion. IN GENERALThe 44 year veteran I was talking to the other day - that conversation took place in the shadow of the Town Hall. Home of our revered Borough Council who have done nothing when it comes to dragging The Pilot Field into the 21st Century. Two teams in the same town, blah blah, blah. I'm not so sure about the validity of that get out clause now - give our people their due over the years - several serious approaches to Fort Fun about merging have been rebuffed - so how about it HBC? Yeah - you've heard me whinge on about this plenty of times - well, put it this way - if you're thinking "He said that one four weeks ago" - that's another £40,000 that HBC will have put into the White Rock Theatre........... The Pilot Field was one of the worst Premier Division grounds last season - only Hinckley's was worse and they're moving to a new ground next season. The Pilot Field's dismal layout is a poor advert for Hastings - and a poor advert for Hastings Council who's "efforts" for local football look shamefully inadequate compared to what their counterparts at Dover and Stevenage (for a start) have done in recent years. Just what has our council done for football in this town? Tried to earmark The Pilot Field for housing and concentrate everything up at cramped, sloping Fort Fun. Terminated the lease on the ground when Hastings Town was embroiled in that survival battle of 1999 - what a cheap shot that was. And - as always I stand to be corrected - are they now no longer responsible for the upkeep of the mainstand? If that's the case - what are the implications for United if East Sussex County Council decide the old thing can't be issued with a new safety certificate?? Two teams in the same town is no longer a valid get out for HBC - the Stains have made it clear they want to go it alone - Hastings Town and United have made approaches, they've done all they can, even the local MP got involved a few years ago. As for being prudent with council tax payers' money - well, as a council tax payer myself I'm entitled to my views and I object to half a million a year being ploughed into the White Rock Theatre (which I don't set foot in) when a one off investment of half that would do wonders for The Pilot Field's grim spectating facilities. Mick Maplesden and Mark Gardiner did their respective bits - it's about time HBC got on with it as well. SUMMIMG UPThere's nothing more up and down than semi pro football. Look no further than Fort Fun where promotion from the Bumpkinship was soon followed by a jump to the Southern Premier - and a few short years later the Stains find themselves looking a bit nervously at a possible drop into Bumpkinship Divvie 2. Our old Premier sparring partners Bromsgrove Rovers seem to be bouncing back after a horrendous few years which saw them plunge from the Conference to the Midland Alliance - Gloucester City are slowly picking the pieces up after huge debts saw them go from the brink of Conference football down to the the DM Western Division - and what about Barry Town in the Welsh Premier - European football is a thing of the past as they find themselves miles adrift at the bottom and relegation almost a certainty. And look at Hastings United. Talk just seven years ago of a five year plan to get to Nationwide League Div 3 - I certainly remember Dave Nessling talking of Conference football by 1997 - and last year we were hoping to be part of the new Conference North/South set up next season. Look where we're headed. It doesn't have to happen that way. Keep up the good work Karl and Sean - and fingers crossed that Hastings United get through their current malaise. Simon Stoddart
Midweek roundupAnyone fancy a game this weekend? I've heard that Lincolnshire looks mighty fine this time of year and Stamford looked like an awfully nice place to visit when I drove through it two years ago. If you're a half decent defender with a free Saturday, you're almost guaranteed a start. Lee Hockey, already suspended from the trip north after his Happy New Year red card, suffered a potentially season ending knee injury at Dartford and may have had his Pilot Field career curtailed at just the two matches. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the player whom Lee had replaced in the starting line-up at Stonebridge Road, Kieren Startup, is also due to serve a one match ban this weekend. Mitchell Sherwood will be suspended as well, although in theory, he will not be quite so badly missed, as Steve Hafner should be able to slot in down the right and Peter Taylor came through a full ninety minutes playing for the reserves last Saturday and ought to make the bench at least, along with Charlie Belcher perhaps. Occasional first team substitute Danny Ellis is also banned this week by the way, which will maybe give Steve Lovell the chance to name himself amongst the subs at Stamford. Well, it wouldn't be the first time this season. As for defensive options, Jimmy Elford will presumably continue to occupy one position in the back three, alongside Russell Eldridge and surely the time has come for Graham Morris to step up from the reserves once again, after some solid performances of late. Unless, that is, Steve is successful in his quest to bring some new players in by the weekend. He has definitely lost out on one of his targets, a defender ironically, but hopes to sign a new striker on Friday to bolster our flagging forward line. Curiously, Carl Rook, whom I was expecting to be banned this week, is not and will line up as usual. Thinking about it, if we are desperate for defenders, Carl could always drop back again. Then again, maybe not. And as Matt Brown also played in the reserves last week, I wonder if he will reclaim his first team place, now that Will and Greg have been found to be somewhat lacking. I have drawn a complete blank in my search for information about that guy who was alleged to be holding takeover talks with Mick Maplesden, except that I believe his full name to be Tony Hillier-Carter, that he lives locally and that Mick has spoken with him. I must confess that I don't subscribe to the view that supporters have a right to be kept informed with this sort of negotiation. The only reason why professional clubs like Leeds United have their finances kept under such close scrutiny, is that as they operate as a plc, they are obliged to report important matters to the Stock Exchange, which brings them into media spotlight. As far as I am concerned, Mick's negotiations remain private as long as he wishes. Just the one game in the Eastern Division this midweek and it saw Stamford follow up their 4-0 win at Fleet last Saturday, with a 2-1 home win over another of our relegation rivals in Erith & Belvedere. Stamford are now one win away from a top six place, while Erith remain four points below us and have now played a game more. I was looking out for the score in the Kent Senior Cup tie between Bromley and Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday as well, but the game was postponed. It was a potentially interesting game between Alan Walker's old side and his new one, only for him to be sacked by Bromley last week anyway, after just four games in charge. He's now gone to Maidstone. More uncertainty for Newport IoW this week with the news that their Receivers have accepted an offer for their St George's Park ground and other business assets. Essentially, this could well turn out to be good news, but at this stage, the identity of the buyer has not been released, and it is still not known what plans he or she has for the football club itself. While they wait to find out, the playing squad is now exclusively island based for the first time in Newport's thirteen years in the Southern League. Grantham Town's 1-0 win at Welling United on Tuesday, pushed Eastbourne Borough back down to sixteenth place in the Premier Division, although their win at Tiverton last weekend did take them eight points clear of the bottom four. That said, Borough cannot be relegated this season of course, assuming that the Conference South does take off next year, but they must surely have been targeting a place in new league when the season began. At Priory Lane on Tuesday, Borough advanced to the fourth round of the Sussex Senior Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Burgess Hill Town. Scott Ramsay scored the opener just five minutes in and added another midway through the second half. Stuart Tuck completed the scoring with seventeen minutes remaining. Eastbourne Town were due to play Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, but I have been unable to track down the result as yet. Three midweek FA Trophy third round replays produced a couple more upsets, but not at Broadfield, where Crawley Town lost 2-1 to Dagenham & Redbridge. Ryman Premier side Kettering Town won 3-2 at Woking of the Conference and Arlesey of Ryman Division One North beat Ryman Premier Hayes on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Three ties remain to be settled, but the fourth round draw is below, with King's Lynn well rewarded for their efforts at the weekend with a home tie against Exeter City. The ties will be played on 31 January. Shrewsbury Town v Hucknall TownDorchester Town or Margate v Worksop Town Marlow v Tamworth Forest Green Rovers v Barnet Leigh RMI or Stalybridge Celtic v Marine Hornchurch v Stevenage Borough Halifax Town v Staines Town Weymouth v Altrincham Blyth Spartans v Aldershot Town Maidenhead United v Wealdstone Telford United v Gravesend & Northfleet or Weston-super-Mare Stafford Rangers v Canvey Island Hednesford Town v Worthing Dagenham & Redbridge v Arlesey Town King's Lynn v Exeter City Burton Albion v Kettering Town That's about it for now then. Don't forget, anyone not heading to Stamford on Saturday, to watch or to play, get down to The Pilot Field where the reserves should be in action against Dartford Reserves in the Go Travel Kent League Division One. I say 'should' as I suppose that it does depend on whether there are any players left after Steve Lovell has selected his first team squad. Speaking of the reserves, the Hastings Intermediate Cup semi final tie at home to Tackleway has been arranged for 7 February, when the first team are at Histon to collect an easy three points. And before I sign off until Sunday, I just want to mention the welcome return of Sandy Harmer's Claret 'n' Blue website, which has been down for a few months. I gather that Sandy had offered his services to the official site, but his advances were spurned and www.claretnblue.tk is back. Whatever some people might think, it will be nice to be able to read someone else's views for a change, from my perspective at least. Sean Adams
Att: 156
ElsewhereOnce again, there was consolation for us in that none of the three sides below us managed to win, though Fleet moved off the bottom after an encouraging draw at Homelands, where they led until the closing stages. Erith & Belvedere couldn't quite salvage a draw at home to Eastleigh, while Fisher, next week's visitors to The Pilot Field enjoyed an easy win at Rothwell, who slipped to the foot once again. Burnham edged a point ahead of us, but were denied a win by Chatham's late equaliser. Corby led at half time at Longmead and Dartford were two nil and three two up at Bashley, but both had to settle for a point in the end. Truly Isle of Wight based Newport were thrashed at home by Banbury and Sittingbourne now find themselves in the bottom half with a six game winless streak that began at our place. At the top, Histon were the only winners in the top four, which saw them swap places with Salisbury. Adam Flanagan's stoppage time leveller denied King's Lynn a win in front of the crowd of the day in the Eastern, 1004 at The Walks. Ten points now separate the top five clubs and Histon's three games in hand could yet prove crucial. Ashford Town 1 v 1 Fleet TownBashley 3 v 3 Dartford Chatham Town 1 v 1 Burnham Erith & Belvedere 1 v 2 Eastleigh Histon 2 v 1 Salisbury City King's Lynn 1 v 1 Folkestone Invicta Newport IoW 0 v 4 Banbury United Rothwell Town 0 v 3 Fisher Athletic Sittingbourne 0 v 2 Burgess Hill Town Stamford 1 v 0 Hastings United Tonbridge Angels 1 v 1 Corby Town After two wins in the previous seven days, Eastbourne Borough returned to losing ways in the Premier Division. Despite Ian Pulman's early goal, Borough slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Chippenham, who moved off the foot of the table as a result. Eastbourne remain in sixteenth position. Weymouth's 2-0 win at home to Hednesford saw them open up a five point lead at the top as Crawley were forced to battle back from two down at half time to draw at home to Moor Green. Nuneaton's goalless draw at home to Stafford kept them in third place, but they are just two points ahead of Dover in eighth. At The Pilot Field, the reserves edged a 1-0 win over Dartford in a pretty dour encounter. The quality of the game wasn't helped by a ridiculously fussy performance from the referee and his two assistants, one of whom must have been in his sixties, if not seventies. In fact, the only time the referee allowed the game to flow was in the build up to the only goal of the game, when he somehow missed a blatant foul on the visiting keeper, who was taken out after catching an inswinging Peter Taylor free kick. After a bit of a scramble, Graham Morris knocked in the loose ball to give us the lead ten minutes into the second half, after which, Greg Nessling produced two outstanding saves to keep us in front. That said, he almost presented Dartford with an equaliser before those saves, surviving a total miskick when attempting to clear a backpass, thanks to a similar miskick by the striker in front of the open goal. The full reserve team line-up was Greg, Matt Sellick, Mark Butler, Jimmy Penfold, Adam Warmington, Richard Bolton, Peter, Bruce Sands, Steve Hafner, Graham, and Dominic Cruttenden. Five substitutes were named on the team sheet, one of which was Ryan Peters bizarrely enough, but only Joe Harman appeared to be in evidence and he came on for Mark in the second half. It was also nice to see Kieren Startup and Mitchell Sherwood at the ground supporting the lads, as they were suspended from first team duty. In the Go Travel Kent League Division One table, we are now three points behind Dover, but still six behind Corinthian, who beat Deal 5-2. Rye & Iden United will visit Eastbourne Borough in the quarter finals of the Sussex Senior Cup after a 2-1 third round win at Littlehampton Town on Saturday. Two first half goals from Mickey O'Callaghan set them on their way with the hosts grabbing a consolation in injury time. St Leonards bowed out of the League Challenge Cup at the third round stage after a 4-3 home defeat to Southwick. Ade (or was it Tim?) Olorunda scored a hattrick for Saints, three times giving them the lead, but the visitors came back each time and won it with two goals in the last four minutes. Cracking entertainment at The Firs then, for the fifty brave souls who could be bothered to venture out in the cold to witness it. On Friday evening, Sidley United picked up three useful league points courtesy of a 2-1 win at Hassocks, who had taken a seventh minute lead. Second half goals from Neil Maplesden and Mark Funnell took Sidley up four places in the table. Eastbourne Town's title challenge suffered a blow as they lost 4-3 at Whitehawk, three days after going out of the Sussex Senior Cup after a 6-1 home defeat at the hands of Brighton in front of over a thousand spectators. Westfield advanced a couple of places in division two after coming from behind to win 3-1 at Pease Pottage Village, narrowly failing to repeat their eighteen goal win in the home game against the same opponents last September. The FA Vase reached the fourth round stage on Saturday and after giving the FA Trophy a good airing last week, I thought that I would do the same for the Vase. No Sussex sides have survived to this stage, but the Go Travel Kent League leaders Cray Wanderers are in the hat for the fifth round after an improbable victory in the far north-east. The Cray players and officials actually flew to the game, rather than undertake a marathon coach journey and that decision certainly paid dividends. The demise of AFC Wimbledon will have come as something of a surprise and possibly leaves AFC Sudbury and Winchester City as the favourites to go on and win the competition. These were Saturday's scores. Eastwood Town 3 v 1 St BlazeyStone Dominoes 5 v 1 Concord Rangers North Leigh 0 v 1 Andover Billingham Town 2 v 4 Bideford Keynsham Town 1 v 0 St Neots Town Nantwich Town 1 v 3 Wroxham AFC Sudbury 3 v 1 Desborough Town Congleton Town 2 v 1 Billingham Synthonia West Allotment Celtic 0 v 1 Cray Wanderers Studley 2 v 1 Leamington Gedling Town 2 v 3 Leighton Town Lymington & New Milton 2 v 3 Bitton Gosport Borough 2 v 1 Oadby Town Chertsey Town 5 v 1 Torrington Mossley 1 v 2 Winchester City AFC Wimbledon 1 v 2 Colne There is nothing much going on now until next Saturday, when the first team begin a run of three home league games in the space of eight days. First up is the return game against Fisher Athletic, who have lost just one of their last seven games, a run that began when we drew 2-2 at The Surrey Docks Stadium on 13 December. Four of those seven games have ended in draws, but we desperately need to put a stop to their good run and our own poor one, which now stands at seven without a win. Then, it's a midweek visit from Salisbury, who were unbeaten in sixteen prior to their defeat at Histon on Saturday. Finally, Fleet are at The Pilot Field for a good old-fashioned relegation six pointer, a game that we simply cannot afford to lose, irrespective of the results of the other two games. There are precious few 'easy' games left after that one and the threat of County League football next season will be frighteningly apparent if we continue to underachieve for the remainder of January. The bottom two are still five and six points beneath us of course, but Erith & Belvedere have a chance to close to within just a single point on Tuesday when they take on Ashford, in what is the only scheduled Eastern Division game this midweek. The reserves are away to their Ashford counterparts next Saturday, with a chance to avenge what was their first defeat of the season back in October. They should have Danny Ellis back from his ban for that one and Kieren and Mitchell will be available for the first team again of course. Steve Lovell will no doubt be out shopping again this week in an effort to bring in some more fresh blood to galvanise the troops. I will try and come up with some good news for a midweek report on Thursday, but don't hold your breath. Sean Adams
Eight goal thrillerBrady 22, Rouse 29, Abbott 48, Young 86 Att: 276
ElsewhereOnce again, we were let off the hook this weekend, as none of the three sides below us managed so much as a point between them. Rothwell led briefly at home to Histon, but the promotion chasers won through in the end. Fleet's comprehensive defeat at Eastleigh was enough to see us six points clear of the relegation places with our draw. Erith & Belvedere didn't play, and nor did the leaders Tonbridge, who saw their advantage cut to just the two points by King's Lynn. Histon are within four and still have two games in hand. Salisbury's stoppage time win over Ashford has them six back, one ahead of Eastleigh. Folkestone are now a distant sixth, leading a pack of five clubs who are separated by just three points. A place in the top seven is required for a potential Premier Division place next season, don't forget. Here are all of Saturday's Eastern Division results. Banbury United 1 v 1 DartfordBurgess Hill Town 1 v 2 Bashley Burnham 4 v 3 Newport IoW Corby Town 2 v 1 Chatham Town Eastleigh 3 v 0 Fleet Town Hastings United 4 v 4 Fisher Athletic Rothwell Town 1 v 2 Histon Salisbury City 2 v 1 Ashford Town Sittingbourne 1 v 2 King's Lynn Stamford 0 v 0 Folkestone Invicta Eastbourne Borough seem to be becoming consistently inconsistent, as they picked up three more points away to Hednesford Town on Saturday. Scott Ramsay was again the goalscoring hero with both in a 2-1 victory that lifted Borough up to thirteenth in the table. Weymouth retained their five point lead at the top, twice coming from behind to beat Dover 3-2 at The Crabble. Crawley stayed second with a 4-2 win at home to Grantham. It is fairly obvious what the big story has been locally this week, as it emerged in the last couple of days that St Leonards are on the verge of extinction. Now I have had immense sympathy for the plight of the likes of Newport IoW this season. Somehow, those feelings are not quite as strong when it comes to our neighbours for a number of reasons. Their meteoric rise through the ranks simply on the back of Leon Sheppardson's millions and an ability to attract washed-up ex-professionals for example. Their alleged participation in the dubious negotiations with our administrators a few years back, which might have led to us being shut down. The arrogance of those running the club, most notably one Gary Bowyer and his intolerable attitude towards their County League rivals. And perhaps most of all, their utter determination to go out of their way to avoid ever discussing the perfectly logical idea of our two clubs joining forces and making a collective assault on the Dr Martens League, maybe even with the backing of Hastings Borough Council. Having said all that though, it is still a little sad to think of them going to the wall. Who am I going to poke fun at now? If what I have heard is correct, they still have a few more days to come up with the money they owe the taxman, but it looks rather likely that last week's 4-3 home defeat to Southwick will have been their last game for now. The Saints match away to Redhill on Saturday was called off and it would appear that the three points have been automatically given to Redhill. Sidley United's home league match against the leaders Chichester City United was also postponed, although presumably due to a waterlogged pitch rather than anything more sinister. Duncan McArthur and Shaun Loft were on target as Rye & Iden United won 2-0 at Whitehawk to advance to the semi finals of the John O'Hara League Challenge Cup, but it is reported that manager Glyn White chose the moment of victory to quit his post. Rye & Iden will visit Eastbourne Town in that semi final, after Town's 5-2 home win over Sidlesham in their quarter final on Saturday. In the second division, Westfield recovered from a goal down to beat Saltdean United 3-1 at The Parish Field. Dominic Clarke, Duncan Jones and Mark Drinkwater were the goalscorers as Westfield climbed up a place to sixth in the table. Eastbourne United Association were at it again in the Sussex Senior Cup, this time seeing off East Preston 3-2 to advance to the last eight. Scott McDonald, who scored in both games against us, grabbed a hattrick that included two penalties as Eastbourne came back from two down after twenty-five minutes to earn a home quarter final against Brighton & Hove Albion. The three outstanding third round ties are due to be played in the week and I will include the details in my next update. Our reserves' league match away to Ashford Town on Saturday was another victim of the recent bad weather, which left The Homelands waterlogged. Neither of the other top sides in the Go Travel Kent League Division One played on Saturday, so it's as you were then. Can I apologise to Mark Butler for incorrectly crediting his goal in last weekend's victory at home to Dartford to Graham Morris. I had convinced myself that Mark must have been the one who had taken out the Dartford keeper in the build-up to the goal, but perhaps that was Graham, I don't know. Whatever, I am sure that Mark doesn't score too many and I am only too glad to set the record straight. Next Saturday, the lads are off to Danson Furness for a league game. It was in the home fixture against that lot that Joe Cornwall suffered his broken leg as a result of a simply appalling challenge towards the end of a tense match, which had been dreadfully refereed. As far as I know, the club are still waiting to hear from the Kent League as to whether we will be awarded the three points for the match, which was rightly abandoned after Joe's injury, with our lads leading 3-0. One can only hope that next week's match passes off rather more peacefully and that no-one goes into the game with a view to settling any scores. The game is due to kick off at 1.30 I believe, as Danson have no floodlights at their ground, so be warned if you are planning to travel. But why would you be, with the first team at home to Fleet Town that day? And before we get to that one of course, it's Salisbury City on Tuesday, snow and ice permitting that is. Salisbury will make the trip on the back of a run of just one defeat in eighteen games in the league and that single loss was at Histon last weekend. That splendid sequence, which has included thirteen wins, has allowed them to claw back the gap between themselves and the runaway early leaders Tonbridge and they now sit handily placed in fourth position, six points off the pace and four behind King's Lynn. Salisbury also enjoyed a memorable trip to Hillsborough to take on Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the FA Cup last November. Unlike ourselves last season, the wheels still appear to be very much on as far as Salisbury's campaign is concerned, despite their 4-0 defeat that day. It has been a few years since we last played The Whites, our respective promotions and relegations having seen us miss each other since the 1998/99 season, the one that ended with us in fifth place and demoted nonetheless. That year, we lost 1-0 away on Boxing Day, but got our revenge with a 3-2 home win on Easter Monday (aren't Bank Holidays usually reserved for local derbies?). I must confess that I have no recollection of either of those matches, but I do remember fondly a league double in 1995/96 when we won 4-3 away early in the season and followed that up with a 6-2 win at The Pilot Field, with four from Steve Cuggy. And back in 1985/86, the season after the original Hastings United went bust, we beat Salisbury 5-3 at The Pilot Field in a seesaw battle. Games like that just stick in your mind I guess. I for one would certainly settle for 1-0 on Tuesday, although the form book suggests that result to be somewhat unlikely. We can all dream though. Sean Adams
Midweek MiseryAtt: 202
ElsewhereSalisbury's win saw them jump above Histon into third place in the Eastern Division table and now just three points behind Tonbridge, who have played two fewer games. The only other midweek fixture saw Burgess Hill win 3-0 at Chatham to move up three places into seventh, level on points with Folkestone above them. All three Burgess Hill goals arrived in the opening twenty-five minutes, two for Nicky Sullivan, who now has seventeen for the season. Chatham seem to have gone off the boil of late, after their great run when Clive Walker took over as manager, and have won just one of their last seven. Mind you, we can hardly talk about great runs, without a win in nine as we are. In the Premier, there were 2-0 home wins for Dorchester and Weston-super-Mare over Welling and Havant & Waterlooville respectively. Cambridge beat Nuneaton 2-1 to reach the quarter finals of the League Cup. As I mentioned at the weekend, this week should have seen the quarter final line-up in the Sussex Senior Cup sort itself out, but only one of the three remaining ties was completed in the end, Three Bridges winning their replay at East Grinstead Town on penalties after a goalless draw after extra time. Crawley Town and Bognor Regis Town were twenty-three minutes through their third round tie at Broadfield when a power failure forced the game to be abandoned and rescheduled for next Tuesday. The Oakwood v Arundel tie scheduled for Wednesday didn't even get started and they will try again at the weekend. When we get there, Worthing will be at home to the winners of the Crawley v Bognor tie, Three Bridges at home to either Oakwood or Arundel, Eastbourne United Association at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and Eastbourne Borough at home to Rye & Iden United. Conceivably, we could have a Crawley based derby and an Eastbourne derby in the semi finals then. Sadly no chance of a Hastings derby without a lot of pound notes exchanging hands. Curious goings-on over at The Salts at the weekend, with Glyn White resigning as manager due to 'differences of opinion over the way the club should progress', whatever that might be a euphemism for. I did hear that it was something to do with a decision to alter or cancel one of the club's training evenings, which was taken without Glyn being consulted, but I don't truly know. Club coach Ryan Light and long-serving player and captain Scott Price have been installed as joint managers, but whether they have the right profile to take the club forward, time will tell. If it doesn't work out, there's always Gary Bowyer, I suppose, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in financial fortunes at The Firs this week. And so, as long as the snow and ice has cleared, it's the six pointer against Fleet Town on Saturday afternoon, and an opportunity to avenge a miserable 3-0 midweek defeat back in early November. We were missing a couple of regulars that night and Joe Heasmer and Steve Graham both started the game, in which we were pretty well outplayed. Remarkably, that was the last time Fleet won in the league. I say remarkable as even we have managed a couple of wins since then. Since then, they have drawn three and lost eleven of fourteen matches, scoring ten and conceding forty-one. Up until Tuesday, Fleet were the only side to have let in more goals than ourselves, but Salisbury's four, hot on the heels of Fisher's four, took us up to sixty-eight, against Fleet's sixty-seven and Fleet have played one game more. Interestingly, despite an apparent lack of goals at the right end, Fisher are the only other side in the bottom half to have scored more goals than us. The perception that we are doing equally poorly at both ends, is obviously exacerbated by our defensive woes, yet the facts tend not to back up that perception. One thing that is for certain, is that a goalless draw is statistically unlikely on Saturday, although Fleet have had a couple this season. If I were a betting man, I think that I would sneak a fiver on us winning 7-5, but I would be more than happy to settle for 1-0. Sean Adams Mr Powell has revealed that next quiz will be on Friday 27th February at the club house.
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