Dolby reflects on United campaign

The U's finished seventh after being in the hunt for a top five finish right up until the last weekend of the season proper.

Their hopes of sneaking up on the rails were ended by a 1-0 defeat away to Margate, although this was made irrelevant by Boreham Wood's win over Tooting & Mitcham United.

"The league doesn't lie, that's where we deserved to end up and we've got to take it on the chin," said the Hastings manager.

The previous two seasons Hastings had gone into the final game facing the possibility of relegation before ultimately coming 14th in 2007/08 and 17th in 2008/09.

"We have come a long way," Dolby went on. "We did play some entertaining football, certainly for large periods of the home games and that's a credit to the way we look to do things."

Among's Dolby's highlights were the big wins over Tonbridge Angels (5-1 at home) and Maidstone United (5-0 away), and the excellent performance against big-hitting Farnborough in the FA Cup.

Disappointments included the 3-2 defeat away to Ashford Town (Middlesex) after they come back from two-down, and the FA Trophy hammering at the hands of Merstham.

Dolby was this week due to hold preliminary discussions with the squad. Ex-Charlton Athletic duo Harry Pell and Liam Bellamy - who starred during the season finale - aren't expected to remain at The Pilot Field.