Saturday, November 12, 2011

United have come a long way in the last three weeks, but clearly not quite far enough on the evidence of this afternoon's second home defeat of the season to a Cray Wanderers side that has now scored five goals without reply at the Pilot Field this year.

That earlier encounter saw the U's completely outplayed and comprehensively beaten in an FA Cup first qualifying round tie, and while there was certainly a lot less between the two teams second time round, it will be of little consolation to United and Sean Ray, who suffered the first defeat of his fledgling managerial career.

A run of four consecutive wins had sent the U's into the contest full of confidence, and in spite of a sequence of eight games without a victory in all competitions, Cray displayed an impressive attacking flair themselves, matching United's 4-3-3 formation, although it took a howler from keeper Lloyd Anderson to gift the visitors a lead that they scarcely deserved at the time.

Cray custodian Andy Walker pulled off a couple of excellent stops during an opening twenty minutes in which United looked much the better side. Jack Dixon's early twenty yard effort was repelled by a flying save, while Walker later stood up superbly to block from Kenny Pogue, when the striker broke clear onto Ryan Thomson's excellent through ball.

The breakthrough came at the other end though, Anderson allowing Lewis Perkins' tamely struck thirty-third minute shot to squirm under his dive at the near post, and without Josh Jirbandey's outstandingly timed tackle five minutes later, Tommy Whitnell would surely have made it two, as United began to lose their way just before the interval.

Whitnell set up a great chance for Leigh Bremner shortly after the restart, but Anderson was in the right place to gather his scooped effort, and around the hour mark, the U's at last started to regain his composure, with Jordan Woodley linking with Pogue, whose low shot on the turn was again well saved by Walker.

Woodley's afternoon ended early, and the Brighton loanee let his frustration get the better of him when he was taken off with twenty minutes remaining, possibly to avoid the prospect of him fouling, or talking, his way into a red card. On in his place came the newly re-signed Joe Barham, the Westfield striker showing some great touches on his return to the Club, involved in both of the moves that maybe ought to have earned United an equaliser.

First, Barham's header and Lee Carey's near flick sent Jamie Crellin clear into the area, but the midfielder hurried his shot and sent it high and wide as a consequence. Another Barham header then appeared to create a gilt-edged opening for Pogue in the six yard box, but Tyrone Sterling did just enough to put him off, and his stretching effort flashed wide.

It was to be the U's last sight of goal, and Bremner and and Whitnell could both have made the game safe, before Cray sub Jack Clark did just that, meeting a low cross by full back Sam Long with a calm finish that gave Anderson no chance in the first minute of added time.

Slightly harsh as the second goal was, Cray had probably done just enough to merit the win. They looked sharper going forwards, and with Sterling having a highly impressive ninety minutes at the back, United looked rather less effective than they had over the last couple of weeks. And it won't get any easier for the U's next weekend, with them to host second placed AFC Hornchurch.

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Hastings United (4-3-3)							Cray Wanderers (4-3-3)
1 Lloyd Anderson							1 Andy Walker
2 Jack Dixon							2 Sam Long
3 Ross Sutton							3 Allan McLeod
4 Jamie Crellin							4 Aaron Day
5 Sean Ray							5 Mark Willy (c)
6 Josh Jirbandey (c)							6 Tyrone Sterling
7 Zac Attwood							7 Tommy Whitnell
8 Lee Carey							8 Chris Saunders
9 Kenny Pogue							9 Lewis Perkins
10 Ryan Thomson							10 Danny Phillips
11 Jordan Woodley							11 Leigh Bremner
Substitutes
12 Dan Bolwell							12 Tony Dolby
14 Matt Whitehead							14 Alex Bentley
15 Joe Barham (for Woodley 70)							15 Danny Young (for McLeod 90+3)
16 Scott Manning							16 Jack Clark (for Bremner 86)
GK Harry Stapley							17 Michael Power

Attendance: 487

Referee: Nolan Wilde (Maidstone)

Assistants: Frank Meilack (Crowborough) & Leigh Crowhurst (Uckfield)