Our second 25/26 pre season friendly saw us take on Isthmian Prem side Whitehawk
Tom Dyson-Laurie from Hastings United Radio was at the game for us
1st half:
After a dominant display against Horsham YM on Saturday, Hastings United were back on the road just 3 days later as this time Whitehawk were the opponents. Choosing to opt for our NEW white kit look as well as four changes being made from Saturday, United were playing uphill first half in conditions which can only be described as gusty winds as those around me had their hoods up, however the wind may have played a part in the U’s favour as Freddie Legg struck a fierce effort down the middle after being laid off by Brad Barry who skippered the side again but was kept out by the keepers legs.
With Whitehawk struggling to play the ball out from the back at times, an attack from the hosts saw the U’s counter and a cross field pass from Joe Clifford picked out Fin Chapman who curled a beautiful effort into the far corner of the net giving United a 1-0 lead. A superb goal and the first real test of the whole game for either keeper.
Whitehawk came back into the game and had a few chances, one headed over the bar from a set piece and the other was blazed over the crossbar from just outside the box as the Hastings defence were caught out from a cross from the right.
No further chances were created, however a very solid display from Hastings – especially defensively who tracked back in numbers superbly.
2nd half:
Two initial changes at half time were made, however the first chance of the second half went Hastings’s way and once again, replicating a carbon copy of the first, Fin Chapman again cut inside onto his right foot and curled another superb into the far corner. 2-0 to Hastings and it could almost have been three as whilst typing out the second, a cross from the left was played to Freddie Legg who in a 1v1 looked on odds to make it 3 but too many touches from Legg saw the ball get blocked and behind for a corner.
Three Hastings subs were made after that, and whilst Finn Holter made his only save all game after catching a header from a cross, a trialist who came on stood up a cross to the back post with Chapman knocking down – no player in white got a connection to the header.
Whitehawk went up the other end and pulled a goal back to make the score 1-2. Lee Carey wasted no time and bought Dan Hull back on for Joe Clifford to keep it tight at the back and whilst a late effort from Whitehawk flashed over the bar, United had no further chances and so after another solid display, United go into Saturdays game away against Haywards Heath looking to make it 3 from 3.
Tom Dyson-Laurie
