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United get a change of luck at last - 23/2/08

After three consecutive matches in which luck appeared to have deserted them, United finally profited from a slice of good fortune this afternoon, as they recovered from conceding an early goal to beat a Harlow side reduced to ten men midway through the second half. The dismissal of player-manager Ryan Kirby for two senseless yellow cards undoubtedly proved to be the pivotal moment in the game, and gave United the impetus to grab the winning goal with a quarter of an hour remaining, as Lee Carey's shot ricocheted into the net via the goalkeeper and a defender for his third goal in as many games. Earlier, Tim Olorunda backheeled only his second goal of the season to cancel out James Bunn's eighth minute opener, but United were forced to hang on desperately in the closing moments to preserve their lead and avoid any more late drama.

Sam Adams' recovery from the neck injury that forced him to miss last weekend's defeat at Horsham allowed United manager Tony Dolby to name his first choice starting line-up, with recent loan signing Steve Elliott making his home debut, and Antonio Gonnella returning to the substitutes' bench. Ashley Paine and Russell Eldridge returned to Reserve Team duty, with Kevin Rose and the fit again John Bradley called back into the First Team squad, as Tony decided not to name himself amongst the sixteen this week. Meanwhile, Rhys Whyborne and Ade Olorunda both reached the noteworthy milestone of a century of appearances this afternoon, but sadly failed to add to their combined tally of forty-one goals, with Rhys still to get off the mark. Harlow named five of the side which started the goalless draw between the two teams at Barrows Farm back in September, including keeper Michael Dumoulin, who had made his league debut that day. Kirby again led his side from the heart of a three man defence, while centre forward Bunn skippered a line-up that featured two recent loan signings from Southend United, giant defender David Obaze, and classy looking striker James Lindie.

United got off to a positive start and went close to a goal as early as the third minute, when Steve drove in a dangerous cross from the right, which Danny Chapman somehow managed to divert behind for a corner, despite the close attentions of Ade and Danny Leach. But after that escape, the visitors went on to enjoy a lengthy period of pressure, during which time they took the lead and perhaps should have doubled their advantage as well. United were given an early warning of the danger that Harlow would pose, when both Leon Lalite and Lindie found space on the left hand side of the area, only for Rhys to deny either a shot on goal. Three minutes later though, Scott Curley chased a long ball down the right hand side of the area, and did well to cut an intelligent cross back towards Bunn on the edge of the six yard box for a toe poked effort that beat Lee Worgan at his near post. United were clearly struggling and looking particularly ill at ease in defence, whilst Harlow were making full use of their extra man in midfield, with Carley especially getting forward at every opportunity. Six minutes after taking the lead, David Lee's deep free kick was headed down by Obaze and found Chapman in acres of space near the penalty spot, but his needlessly rushed effort drifted well wide of the target. Danny then latched onto Lee's long clearance and attacked the left hand side of the Harlow area, firing a low shot from an impossible angle across the face of goal, while Rhys might have done better than to head over when presented with a good chance from a Nathan Simpson free kick five minutes later. United were afforded another let-off when Lee failed to gather Curley's twenty yard shot, or Bunn's follow-up effort, presenting Lindie with a great chance that Nathan Russell did well to block. And having ridden their luck somewhat, United managed to find a crucial equaliser in the thirty-third minute, Tim intercepting Nathan Simpson's low cross and surging along the by-line, before cutting the ball back for Ade to initially miscontrol, but to recover and win a header that set up his brother for a cheeky backheeled finish from just a couple of yards out. Far from being deflated by losing their lead though, Harlow stormed straight back at United, and went desperately close to restoring their advantage, after Rhys had been cautioned for a foul on Bunn, when David Lee's twenty-five yard free kick sped off the greasy surface and cannoned to safety off Lee Worgan's left hand upright. An even better opportunity went begging a couple of minutes before the interval, as United failed to clear a corner, Bunn finding himself in space on the right and chipping a pinpoint cross onto the head of the shockingly unmarked Obaze, who glanced narrowly wide of the gaping target. A yellow card for Curley, after a slightly reckless challenge on Jimmy Elford, saw the teams head off for the interval level on cautions, as well as on the scoresheet.

Both sides appeared more watchful after the restart, and neither keeper came under any great pressure for a good twenty minutes, although Beckett Hollenbach perhaps should have tested Lee from Kenny Davis' volleyed cross. Kirby picked up the first of his two bookings for booting the ball away after United had been awarded a free kick, and he must surely wonder at the wisdom of the scything challenge on Ade, near the touchline and not far from the home dugout, that led to an inevitable red card in the sixty-third minute, with Nathan Simpson also cautioned for squaring up to Kirby after the incident. Carley seemed less than impressed to be the player sacrificed, as Harlow brought on Mark Taylor to help plug the gap in their defence, but the visitors continued to look relatively comfortable in keeping United at bay, despite playing a man short. David Lee and Ade traded chances at either end, while Bunn failed to find his range with a spectacular volley from a Lee corner, and then flicked a near post effort straight at Lee Worgan from Taylor's left wing cross. United still seemed to be puzzling over how to make their extra man count, when they enjoyed a huge slice of luck that effectively did the job for them, Nathan Simpson releasing Ade down the left, his cross met by an air shot from Sam at the far post, and the ball running loose to Lee Carey, who drilled in a low shot that Dumoulin appeared to have covered, only for the ball to ricochet off his body and over the line via the unfortunate Chapman. For the following ten minutes, United looked capable of adding to their tally and wrapping up the three points, but they failed to seriously test Dumoulin any further, and almost let Harlow back into the contest with three minutes remaining, Davis winning a strong challenge in the middle of the United half, and setting up Lindie for a left foot shot that dribbled inches wide of the far post with Lee a mere spectator. Some loose play at the other end set up Danny for a clear run on goal, but electing to shoot early from outside the area, he lifted his attempt wide of the goal. Six long minutes of stoppage time saw United attempt to waste time in the corners whenever possible, and Chapman take the yellow card count to half a dozen for a late show of dissent. It also presented the visitors with one final opportunity to earn a share of the spoils, as Dumoulin sent a free kick into the United area, where it was allowed to run through to substitute Dean Williams, who stabbed a bobbling shot past the onrushing Lee, but not past Jimmy on the goalline, and although the skipper's last ditch clearance rebounded back towards goal off Nathan Russell, he was on hand to clear once again after panic momentarily threatened to erupt in the six yard box, virtually the final act of a scrappy encounter, from which United were extremely grateful to emerge with all three points.

The importance of today's victory can scarcely be underestimated in the context of a relegation battle that still looks like going right to the bitter end. Had they lost this afternoon, United would have been left four points from safety, having played more games than most of their rivals, heading into next weekend's trip to second placed AFC Wimbledon. Whilst still a desperately tough prospect on paper, United can now at least go to Kingsmeadow on the back of a morale boosting win, and can also feed off the confidence that must surely come from recent performances against the rest of the current top five.

Match facts	Efforts on target	Efforts off target	Free kicks conceded	Corners won	Offsides against
Hastings United	4	8	19	7	3
Harlow Town	4	7	21	2	2

Hastings United (4-4-2)							Harlow Town (3-5-2)
1 Lee Worgan							1 Michael Dumoulin
2 Steve Elliott							2 Kenny Davis
3 Jimmy Elford (c)							3 Beckett Hollenbach
4 Rhys Whyborne							4 Danny Chapman
5 Nathan Russell							5 Ryan Kirby
6 Nathan Simpson							6 David Obaze
7 Sam Adams							7 Leon Lalite
8 Tim Olorunda							8 Scott Curley
9 Ade Olorunda							9 James Bunn (c)
10 Danny Leach							10 David Lee
11 Lee Carey							11 James Lindie
Substitutes
12 Danny Spice (for Adams 85)							12 Dean Williams (for Obaze 81)
14 Antonio Gonnella (for T Olorunda 90)							14 Danny Hill
15 Frankie Sawyer							15 Mark Taylor (for Curley 65)
16 John Bradley							16 Shaun Gliddon
17 Kevin Rose							GK James Hasell

Attendance 405

Referee Warren Atkin (Crawley)

Assistants Gary Croft (Sedlescombe) & Stephen Roots (Tunbridge Wells)