‘Great start but work to do’

Although pleased with his start as Hastings United manager, Dom Di Paola says there’s still ‘mountains of work to do’.
Action from Hastings United's come-from-behind 3-1 win away to East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy Joe KnightAction from Hastings United's come-from-behind 3-1 win away to East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy Joe Knight
Action from Hastings United's come-from-behind 3-1 win away to East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night. Picture courtesy Joe Knight

The new boss has won both of his first two games, following up a 4-1 win at home to Guernsey on Saturday with a 3-1 victory away to East Grinstead Town on Tuesday night.

He said: “It’s gone okay. The performances aren’t where we want them, but the results are so we can’t complain as yet. I think harder tasks and tests lie ahead with some of the games we’ve got coming up - I think we’ve got five or six away games on the spin - but it’s nice to pick up some points.”

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The two wins have nudged United up to 18th in Ryman Football League Division One South with their points total now exceeding the number of games played and Di Paola says the players have been receptive to the points made by him and his management team.

“They’ve taken on board everything,” he continued. “I think we just need to maintain the belief in the passing game, but we need to work on everything. We need to work on defensive play, set-pieces, better movement in midfield and combination play with the forwards.

“There’s mountains of work to do. We’re training Friday and we’ll try to work on two or three bits; it will be a little bit each week drip fed in.

“Confidence is the key. There’s some really good players in that team, they just need some confidence in their game and they will play better, and go into games a little bit less fearful.”

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The club is running coaches to the FA Trophy first round qualifying tie away to Cray Wanderers on Sunday and league match at Whyteleafe the following Saturday, leaving The Pilot Field at 12noon and 11.45am respectively.

The cost is £12 for adults, with a £2 discount for supporters’ club members, and £5 for under-18s. Email [email protected], visit the club’s Facebook page or call 07590 568432 to book a place.