Phoenix Sports vs Hastings United – Isthmian League
Following Tuesday night’s 3-0 victory over Hythe Town, United’s league campaign continues on Saturday 23rd October with a trip to Barnehurst’s Phoenix Sports. This is our first Saturday league game since the successful trip to Sevenoaks on 11th September, some six weeks ago.
United’s six-game form – WWWWLW
The ‘U’s are in rude health having won five of their last six games, their only loss being away to National League outfit Maidenhead United in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.
They’ve actually won nine out of the last ten, but I’ve adjusted as this is a six-game summary.
In addition to the Maidenhead game and Tuesday night’s win at Hythe Town, United have won two FA Cup and two FA Trophy rounds. They’ve scored 13 goals and conceded five, along with four clean sheets. Kenny Pogue is also flying, he’s scored in each of the past four games and two of those have been absolute belters – the winner at Chippenham and the third goal at Hythe, captured brilliantly by Scott White.
What this means is United are into the FA Trophy third qualifying round (at home to Felixstowe & Walton United on 30th October – more on them in next week’s preview) and have moved up to eighth in the table with games in hand.
Who are Phoenix Sports and what’s their six-game form? LLLLLL
Located in Barnehurst, Greater London, Phoenix Sports have been doing battle with United since the 2017/18 season in the Bostik League South Division (see below). They were sitting mid-table in the 2019/20 curtailed season so didn’t benefit from escaping relegation nor impacted by the lack of promotion.
This season is not going quite so well, and they are currently holding up the rest of the table having won just once. In their last six games they’ve been knocked out of both FA competitions and lost four league games, including a 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Whitstable Town which plunged them to the bottom. They’re not getting thumped every week, but the opposition are scoring more than them.
Any recent previous meetings?
The teams met twice in the 2017/18 season – Phoenix winning 3-0 at home followed by a 1-1 draw at the Pilot Field. The next season United won 3-0 at home before a 3-3 away draw. Finally in the curtailed season there was only one meeting, a 3-1 home win for United.
Bottom line
United have games in hand on teams above them but those teams have points on the board, so the ‘U’s will be looking to maintain their form and keep climbing the table. Phoenix meanwhile need the points to build some momentum and start climbing the table themselves.
Match information
Saturday 23rd October, 3pm kick off at The Mayplace Ground, Mayplace Rd E, Bexleyheath, Dartford DA7 6JT.
Can’t attend? You can follow live game updates via Twitter: @hastingsufc
Bob Quinn
Twitter: @BobJQuinn