HASTINGS 0 HORNCHURCH 0 - report and stats

[Dagger03]

Saturday 12th January 2008

HASTINGS UTD 0 HORNCHURCH 0

HU – Lee Worgan – Danny Spice – Russell Eldridge – Nathan Russell – Rhys Whyborne © - Ashley Paine – Antonio Gonella – Tim Olorunda – Sam Adams – Lee Carey – Jack Franklin

Subs – Frankie Sawyer for Eldridge 54 – Kevin Ross for Paine 90 – Danny Ellis for Adams 62 – Jani Seitsonen

 

HFC – Dale Brightley – Donny Barnard – Danny Glozier – John Purdie © - Jim McFarlane – Elliot Styles – Dean Green – Des Boateng Kris Lee – Simon Parker – Mark Janney

Subs – Amos Foyewa 90+3 for Simon Parker – Frankie Curley – Richard Halle – Shane Oakley for Mark Janney 69 – Richard Goddard

 

Bookings – Nathan Russell 75 (HU) – Colin McBride 90+1 (H) – OFF - Elliot Styles 90+2 (H)

Attendance 463 – 200 from Hornchurch

Weather – 7 degrees at start, 5 degrees at finish – sunny at start, clear at finish, wind speed 5 mph

Officials – M Yerby with A Colwell and J Pike

Duration – 46.08 + 48.15

Statistical record – Amos Foyewa broke the record for the shortest ever appearance when he came onto the pitch at 93.01, just fourteen seconds before the end.

This is the second statistical record a HFC player has set up this season.

 

HASTINGS UTD 0 HORNCHURCH 0

Hastings lies at the foot of the South Downs, the largest chalkland area in the UK, Magnificent drainage means that any amount of rain simply soaks through right away. Unfortunately it also lies right on the edge of the Downs, and this is bounded by the area of sandstone known as the Hastings Sands and Wealden Clay – and this is where their pitch is situated – hence the rather soft boggy surface which took virtually all the bounce out of the ball.

 

200 Urchins invaded the ground, and Lawrence set up the record for the longest and highest ever wheelie down the ramp, from the bar to the ground, sending the Hastings mascot – a large albatross called Sammy the Seagull – fluttering for cover. Unc then sent terror through the hearts of the handful of home supporters with his Burberry and moon boots. But it was Hastings themselves who caused the greatest mirth, playing ‘The Boys are back in Town’ as the Urchins took up their positions. Faux pas par excellence.

 

The old speedway track is still visible around the pitch – exactly 50 years after the speedway was closed down – the tea bar was quick and efficient – and also very expensive. The pitch itself had a slope on it similar to the Eiger, and Urchins had to kick up the massive incline in the first half.

 

Urchins got off to a promising start, Donny Barnard slipping the ball through to Simon Parker who raced in from the left and hit his cross low across goal, where there was no one up far enough to touch home. Worgan in goal for the home side caused a certain amount of consternation when his long kick almost bounced over Dale Brightley’s head and the keeper then sent another long punt upfield where Adams got on to the end of the ball as it dropped, and hooked it yards wide, the ball hitting the first oak on the right, rebounding against the birch and then coming back off the poplar tree.

 

But Hastings rarely threatened, and almost conceded a goal when Mark Janney touched back to Danny Glozier whose lobbed shot dropped onto the roof of the net. At the other end, Adams cut in from the left, turned the ball inside to Gonnella, who fired yards over the top, just missing the crow sitting at the top of the oak tree. A Glozier pass was intercepted by Russell who then was dispossessed by Glozier who turned the ball inside to Des Boateng who hammered in his shot which skimmed the bar, and Hastings immediately surged back down the hill side. Gonnella’s cross being headed firmly away by John Purdie for a corner, which Eldridge took and Brightley gathered. Parker to Kris Lee, and Spice tackled to give away a corner which Boateng played short to Glozier and from Danny’s well timed centre Simon Parker came in but headed just over the bar. Janney was fouled by Adams who escaped without a card and from Glozier’s free kick the ball came back to Janney who crossed back into the middle where the whistle went of an offside which few believed to be correct. Gonnella made a solo run down the middle, and Elliot Styles came across to tackle to start up yet another Urchins sortie upfield. Jim McFarlane then sent a perfect pass to Kris Lee, who turned the ball back to Janney, who hit his shot over the bar. Spice created a moment of danger when he took the ball off of Glozier and booted it deep upfield, forcing Dale Brightley to race out of his goal to kick clear, only for Adams to play the ball back inside, and Purdie headed out for a corner. Urchins pressed hard prior to the interval, and Barnard’s free kick found Parker who crossed first time into the middle where McFarlane’s hard shot – yes, shot, not a header – cannoned off Whyborne for a corner, which Boateng took and McFarlane played the ball back to Boateng who centred for Simon Parker who cracked his shot just wide of the goal.

 

At half time, the crowd were entertained by the Hastings Hot Something or Other, who pranced up and down each swinging their two large pom poms. UM looked for the rare black billed hastings gull, believed to be one of the many Hastings Rarities, forgetting that they have big hooked red ones in winter. Urchins kicked down the slope in the second half, only to find that during the interval the slope had lessened somewhat.

 

Boateng gave Urchins an opening at the start of the second half, his touch back to Glozier seeing Danny’s cross go just over, and it was Glozier in action at the other end, heading away Eldridge’s corner. Gonnella twice in a minute made a solo break upfield, each time finding Elliot Styles in his way. A Glozier run saw the resulting centre put too far forward and the ball was gathered easily by Worgan, whilst a Glozier free kick saw McFarlane’s powerful header again skim the bar. Glozier again, this time sending Boateng clear, the ball bobbling badly on the bumpy surface just as Des got in his shot, which sailed over the bar. A Parker run saw the ball played back to Glozier and on to Styles, following up hard through the middle, and Elliot’s shot brought an excellent save from the overworked Worgan. Glozier yet again, this time seeing his shot rebounding off Russell for a corner, which Boateng took and Worgan caught. Shane Oakley came on and was quickly into action being sent clear on the left, with Gonnella racing back to tackle. Then it was Glozier to Lee, whose goal bound shot was touched around the post for another corner which Boateng took and McFarlane went close with another header. Then it was Jim McFarlane who won the ball inside his own half, strode upfield, slipped a pass inside to Parker, who turned the ball out to Oakley, who rushed in but hit his shot inches wide of the post.

 

The one way traffic was temporarily halted when Carey fired a free kick yards over the bar, narrowly missing the black billed seagull which was flying over to roost, and Urchins continued to pound away at the home goal. Glozier to Lee, who cut in and fired his shot wide. Then Styles to Parker who hooked his shot wide, and Green twice went through only to hit the ball wide of the far post. Barnard came up to join in, with a similar result, and then Gonnella found himself all on his own upfield and he raced goalwards, where Dale Brightley made a magnificent save – the only time Hastings managed a direct shot on goal – to turn the ball out for a corner, which McFarlane then headed away. A Glozier free kick almost saw Rose head through his own net, and Boateng’s corner was well saved by Worgan. Colin McBride was inexplicably sent off in stoppage time and Amos Foyewa then came on for the shortest time that any Urchin player has ever spent on the pitch – just fourteen seconds, and Hastings had held out for a point, in a match where Urchins had missed at least ten chances he ball simply not running for them. Several good performances today but none could compete with Jim McFarlane, unbeatable in defence, and also having the most on target goal attempts.

 

 

 

 

[Serious Sid]

Just a few points Dagsy please. Us Capricorns are pedantic b*ggers! The Hastings website has some alternative spellings for some of the names printed on your teamsheet '''

 

Danny Spice

Antonio Gonella

Jani Seitsonen

 

Unc reported that Shane came on for Janners. Did he actually replace Simon?

 

Who did Amos come on for please?

 

I need this info for the website match report page.

 

Cheers.

[urchinboy2]

Amos came on for Simon Parker.

Shane for Janners

[Serious Sid]

Cheers UB2. Much appreciated.

[Dagger03]

Urchinboy and Sid - subs were Shane for Mark, and Amos for Simon - apologies, my error, I only got back a little while ago, due to having a quick look at Hastings, and searching for the black billed seagull on the seafront, followed by a stop at the world's slowest little chef - so I always try and get the reports out quickly, and then check them and amend them for spelling errors later.

 

Sid - re-the first names, these were both typing errors.

Re-the second names - these were not typos - I took them directly from the handwritten official team sheet which was handed in to the referee - the copy I had was almost unreadable and the handwriting was not too good, but I always write them down as per the official team sheet.

[Serious Sid]

Cheers Mate. We all appreciate your valuable input and your match reports are second to none! Just trying to make sure things are recorded correctly for the website.

[Arrow]

Hi hope you had a good day out in Hastings. How you did not score well you'd better ask your forwards!

Just read the match report, very entertaining! Back to how you did not score though and not sure that the ball was just not running for you! I think the crow in the oak tree took quite a battering today both from our few shots and yours.

200 supporters from Hornchurch, are you sure, were they in the trees with the Crows then? Hastings is at the foot of the Weald not te Downs. The pitch has a steep slope? Were you looking at the big grass bank? It slopes granted but hardly steep or am I just used to living in a hilly town.

But did enjoy the match report and your humorous supporters. Hopefully we will see you again next season although Bob, think that was his name, is sure we will be in Ryman North next season. Someone give him a map will ya!

All the best for the rest of the season and make sure you beat some of our relegation rivals!

[Eastside Urchin]

daggers 04's reports are toungue in cheek,of course there weren't 200 of us but there were about 100 which was [****!!****] brilliant support which sang our hearts out,nice to see the hastings fans who were great chaps and a good laugh

I loved your stand first half,it was great and was pukka of non league football,i hope that the urchins and hastings can forge a long lasting relationship.

Would you lot like to come to france with us???

[Arrow]

Well according to Hendon supporters we are French so why go to France when you can come to Hastings again?

Yeah your suport was good, better than many teams that come to The Pilot Field. Fingers crossed we will meet again next season because we still need revenge after the game at your place in September!

 

[Dagger03]

>>>Hastings is at the foot of the Weald not the Downs.

 

Have you never heard of continental drift?

 

Anyway the Hastings Sands and Weald Clay are part of the Lower Cretaceous Wealden Group. The North Downs are north of the main town (they actually meet the coastline east of Lydd, several miles east of Hastings), and the south downs are south west of the main town - here is the reference - http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/jpg/1mant3.jpg

 

>>>The pitch has a steep slope? Were you looking at the big grass bank? It slopes granted but hardly steep or am I just used to living in a hilly town.

 

The slope was something like 30 feet from top corner to bottom corner, although it reduced noticably in the second half as the ground clay subsided after the previous day's rain.

 

You are of course quite right - there were not 200 there. I only counted 195 but decided to round the figure up to avoid confusion.

 

Have just read the report on the Hastings web site - quite a good one, though surprisingly it does not mention the crow which was continually ducking the volley of balls aimed at it - incidentally my apologies to the crow - it was of course a jackdaw. Intersting to note that the writer - who was sitting right behind me and was very useful for home players' i/d - mentioned the Sam Adams two footed tackle with warrented a red card - from where we sat, it certainly did appear to be two footed but the referee was almost two yards away from the incident and may not have noticed it.

[Urchins]

AFCH-TV interview with first team coach Ronnie Hanley now uploaded.