Hastings new boys to the fore in pre-season win at Littlehampton

First-half goals from Ben Pope and Lloyd Dawes were complemented by Aaron Capon’s second-half strike.

Littlehampton Town are a step six club resident in the Southern Combination Division One and were top of this league when the season ended in March. Not only top, unbeaten having won 20 of 22 games, scoring an incredible 91 goals and conceding only 15.

The Marigolds were sporting yellow shirts, black shorts and socks on a warm, dry night. The breeze had dropped from moderate to fresh and the playing surface was perfect. The Us got us under way in their white shirts, claret shorts and socks combination.

The opening ten minutes saw both teams settling into the game. Both midfields were busy fizzing passes around until there was a half-chance for Pope whose header from Sam Cruttwell’s free-kick was gathered by the Littlehampton goalkeeper.

The breakthrough was not far behind and it was Capon who instigated the opening goal. First his tenacity won United a throw-in deep on the left giving Ollie Black the opportunity to hurl in a long throw. This was headed clear where Capon won possession on the edge of the area and Jack Steventon steered an accurate cross to the far post which Pope headed in with the minimum of fuss.

Minutes later and the lead was doubled. Cruttwell lofted a pass forward causing panic in the Littlehampton back-line. The centre-half attempted a sideways pass and Dawes swooped in before the goalkeeper could clear, rolling the ball home into an empty net from twelve yards.

Littlehampton were neat and tidy but without setting off any United alarm bells. Three times the centre-forward got into a good position but each time shot wide. Meanwhile the Us supporters who made the trip were being reacquainted with Cruttwell’s sublime left foot, a player who appears to have time on the ball and displays a range of accurate passing.

With ten minutes of the half remaining a combination of Ryan Worrall, Tom Chalmers and Pope won United a corner. This was cleared to the edge of the area where Capon teed himself up and thrashed a right-foot volley goalward only to be thwarted by a brilliant flying save.

The forty-five minutes ended with a brief melee, both teams congregating in the centre-circle. It was much ado about nothing, just two teams getting toward the end of their pre-season friendlies and becoming battle-hardened for the season to come.

United immediately increased their lead at the start of the second half A United free-kick deep in their own half was punted forward and Capon, seizing on a loose pass, was on to the ball in rapid fashion, eating up the turf, drifting past the keeper and finishing with aplomb from the angle.

A whole raft of substitutions followed. For United several youngsters enter the fray including Jack Bates, Max Walsh, Harvey Grieg and Edward Asiamah.

Capon again almost added a fourth. The architects were goalkeeper Louis Rogers with a superb long pass down the right for the galloping Marcus Goldsmith to latch on to. His cross to the near post was glanced by the stretching Capon’s boot but narrowly wide of the far post.

Multiple substitutions in pre-season games are part and parcel to ensure game time and for precautionary reasons. There is inevitably some disruption to the flow. And then just when you think the game is petering out, the new players settle into their shape and the match sparks back into life.

With ten minutes remaining United’s Benn Ward intercepted a pass outside his own penalty area and set off on a dynamic run which took him all the way into the Littlehampton box. He was eventually held up but was able to recycle the ball to Bates whose shot was on target but saved.

The final significant action had Cruttwell involved again. The pass of the night was left-footed, 40 yards straight into the path of Asiamah who didn’t have to break his stride and hit a cross-shot only a yard wide.

Full time: Littlehampton Town 0 – 3 Hastings United

This was a good night’s work for the ‘Us against a talented and compact Littlehampton side who threatened but were unable to truly test Rogers in the United goal. New signings Cruttwell, Capon and Goldsmith all stood out for United.

Pre-season continues further with a trip to Glebe on Saturday (29th August).

Hastings United: Rogers, Black (61’ Bates), Worrall (57’ Greig), Steventon, Cruttwell, Pope (53’ Asiamah), Chalmers (57’ Walsh), Goldsmith, Pogue, Capon, Dawes (24’ Ward).

Unofficial man of the match: First-half, Sam Cruttwell for his composure and passing, able to turn a frantic midfield into slow-motion whenever he received the ball. Second-half, Aaron Capon who put in a magnificent shift throughout, played a vital part in the first goal and scored a great goal himself, displaying speed and poise.