Hastings target swift response

The U’s will return to Ryman Football League South action away to Redhill tonight (Tuesday) still smarting from their 1-0 defeat at home to early leaders Chipstead on Saturday.

In a video interview with joint United programme editor Dan Willett after the Chipstead game, U’s coach Nigel Kane said: “We’ve got to show a reaction, we’ve got to bounce back. I think it’s an advantage that we’ve got a game hot on the heels of this one. The group’s got an opportunity to go away and address it on Tuesday.

“We need to see more energy. I think we need to get the ball out to our creative players out wide earlier and then I think we need to deliver balls into the box earlier. I think we’ve got to get more bodies in the box and we’ve got to show more desire. We’ve got to win those personal battles.

“The first two games of the season we created lots of chances, but today we didn’t create as many opportunities. I don’t think Chipstead had to do a lot to win the game. We’ve told them to go away, take a look in the mirror and have a think about how they could’ve affected the game a bit more than they did.”

United have won one, drawn one and lost one of their three matches so far, while Redhill have drawn two and lost one of their three games. Kick-off at Kiln Brow is 7.45pm.

The season may only be a week-and-a-half old, but United have already had their injury problems. Ade Olorunda pulled out in the warm-up against Chipstead and Sam Adams went off at half time in the same game, while Ronnie Dolan was an unused substitute having sustained a foot injury at Walton Casuals on the opening day.