39 games to go! Dolan keeps Hastings United feet on ground after three wins from three
Ronnie Dolan is delighted to see his Hastings United team top the table – but has reminded his players: There are 39 games to go.
It’s a classic case of keeping players’ feet on the ground as Dolan, Sammy Adams and Trevor McCreadie try to keep United’s early-season momentum going.
After last weekend’s 3-1 win at Ashford United, they have two chances to shine at the Pilot Field over the bank holiday weekend – hosting Hendon in the FA Trophy tomorrow and Crowborough in the Isthmian SE division on Monday.
Reflecting on the win at Ashford – secured by goals from Callum Erskine, Ollie Black and Kesna Clarke (penalty), Dolan told us: “It’s a very nice feeling to win a game of football – it doesn’t matter who you’re playing.
"It’s probably an even better feeling for the fans to have those bragging rights. But for us it’s just another game of football and it’s still early in the season.
"We tell the boys ‘enjoy the wins’ but at the same time don’t get carried away by anything because one win doesn’t define the whole season.
"I’d say we were fairly comfortable in the game – we were worthy winners and definitely the better team in my eyes and those of a lot of people who were there. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get another one or two more goals and put the game to bed sooner.
"They went down to 10 men quite early on when we were 2-0 up and if we’d kept our foot on the gas maybe we could have got three or four a little sooner and made it more comfortable for ourselves.”
It’s nine points from nine so far – after they began with an FA Cup loss to Kingstonian – and Dolan said: "I’m delighted with the way we’ve started the season. We’re top with three wins out of the three and you couldn’t really ask for a better start playing the likes of Croydon and Ashford, who are both among the favourites.
"You can’t moan at the start we’ve made but that’s all it is – it’s just the start of where we are at as a club and as a team.
"With all we did in the summer, bringing in the new lads, and being a very young squad, this is where I and Sam (Adams) and Trevor (McCreadie) will play a big part in making them understand it doesn’t mean anything yet. Three league wins is very good but it’s just a start.
"We’ve got 39 games to go so we must stay focused on the next game and if we keep turning up the way we have been, we won’t be far off. Concentrating on the next game is all we can do."
Dolan said tomorrow’s FA Trophy at home to Hendon would be a nice ‘release’ from the league action.
"Hendon have made a good start in their league – they’ve won their first three as well, so it’s not going to be an easy game, but not many are. We can test ourselves as a team and a squad against a side from the same level but a different league.
"I’m excited to be back at home on Saturday and Monday and hopefully we can get a lot of fans there for both games and they’ll keep backing the boys.
"We must turn up on the pitch and keep doing the right things to make sure the fans keep wanting to come back.
"Momentum is a key thing and we want to take that into Saturday.”