Dolan wants another Hastings United winning run after 'moments of madness'

United lost their first-round Trophy tie at home to fellow step-four side Waltham Abbey on Saturday after letting in three goals in a disastrous ten-minute first-half spell.

They fought back with goals by Kesna Clarke and Sam Pidgeon but couldn’t find an equaliser.

Now it’s back to Isthmian South East business and the leaders welcome third-placed Faversham to the Pilot Field tomorrow and host struggling Deal Town on Tuesday.

Dolan said: “Against Waltham Abbey we started well. We had a chance in the first minute when Freddie Legg went one on one with the keeper but unfortunately he didn’t score. If that had gone it it would have been a different game.

"Then we had three moments of madness – they got in our box three times and scored each time. I said to the boys that teams will punish us if we give them opportunities.

"We’re not always going to come from behind to win games – as much as we can do it, it’s not always going to be possible.

"Second half we came out and got back into it at 3-2 and had another great opportunity towards the end with Warren to make it 3-3 in the final few minutes, so that could have given us a penalty shootout.

"But their keeper made a good save and it was unlucky we didn’t get that opportunity.

"We had a good run in the Trophy but what was disappointing was that we let ourselves down. In that game we were our own worst enemy – it was our own lapses of concentration in defence that cost us, not because we got taken apart.

"It’s not ideal losing our winning run at home, which has been good. But once one run ends, another one can start and we’ve got two home games now back in the league, which are massive for us.”

Faversham arrive on Saturday just two places and three points behind the Us in the top three.

"It’s is a massive game in terms of what we want to try to achieve this season. It’ll be a good test for us to see where we’re at as a team and a squad, and to see what it will look like at the end of the season if we can mix in with these teams who have a high-end budget and a lot of quality in their squad.

"They have players who have played in National South and at step three. I know a few of their players and a couple of their management team, who I’ve come up against as a player. It will be a good test for us.

"On Tuesday night it’s Deal Town and that will another tough one. I wouldn’t read too much into where they are in the league, it’s still early season. They’ve been at this level a little while and they have a good squad. Again, I know a few of their players. I feel like they will climb again – maybe they have had injuries or something’s not quite clicked for them yet.

"They’re a team who have been together a long time and that always counts at this level.

"But at home, whoever we’re playing, I fancy us as long as we turn up and do what we can do. These will be tough tests but that’s what we want. So it’s two big games but hopefully it can be the start of another run.”

Tom Chalmers missed Saturday’s Trophy defeat with a knock to his knee but his omission was precautionary and he was being checked to make sure he could return this week. Joe Clifford rolled his ankle on Saturday and is another needing to be assessed.

Robbie Dolan has joined Tunbridge Wells on dual forms to build up his fitness but can be recalled.