Hastings United boss on last-minute winners, togetherness, goal ace Walsh and Dulwich Hamlet
Ronnie Dolan believes Hastings United’s dramatic injury-time winner in their clash with promotion rivals Sittingbourne shows the sort of character that can take them to success.
Goals by Max Walsh and Kesna Clarke had put the Us 2-1 up on Tuesday night but the Brickies levelled in the fourth minute of injury time.
But United found one last attack and Walsh poked in a winner that sparked jubilation and put Dolan’s men three points clear at the Isthmian South East summit.
It followed Saturday’s routine 3-0 win at home to Merstham in which Walsh (2) and Clarke were also on target.
Now they switch their attention to the FA Trophy and a home tie this weekend with Dulwich Hamlet, which looks likely to draw one of the season’s biggest crowds to the Pilot Field.
Dolan told us about the back-to-back wins: "Satruday was a fairly straightforward. At home I fancy us to turn up and put in a good performance. Without wishing to sound disrespectful, we were fairly comfortable against Merstham. I think the last five or 10 minutes was the only time they had a shot on goal, which is a testament to us and the team’s defending.
"It was good to chalk off another win and nice to get a clean sheet as we haven’t had many of those.
"Tuesday was a tough game – Sittingbourne are one of the favourites to be in the top five at the end of the season. They’ve been up there the past couple of years and are experienced and strong. They’re a physical side and it’s one of those that really tests your mentality and character and your backbone.
"For the first 20 or 25 minutes I think we were the better team and should have had one or two more than the one we got. We were creating chances.
"But credit to Sittingbourne, they scored a well-worked goal which was a bit of a reality check for the boys because we were ontop and then it was ‘ok okay, now we've got to find something else’.
"And testament to the character of my boys, we did. We found the character to go again in the second half. In the last 20 minutes they pinned us in, which when you’re 2-1 up away from home on a Tuesday night, is expected. You expect those teams to come at you – they’re not near the top for no reason, they’re going to throw everything they have at you.
"When they scored in 94th minute our boys looked deflated, even though it would have been a 2-2 draw and not a loss. I just shouted across to them ‘You’ve still got a minute, let’s go’ – and they got their heads up and Ayo Olasimbo had come on and put in a great cross and Max has run in front of their keeper and managed to nick it and it’s gone in.
"That’s the kind of thing you want - the result, the way you win it, one the boys really enjoy and one that keeps the squad’s togetherness and keeps everything really strong.
"It was a good win – a good to game to watch as well. It’s a great result for us away from home. People are probably looking and asking if Hastings are going to be serious this season, and that was one that could have been a slip-up where you had Saturday but it showed character.
"The boys are listening to everything me, Sam, Trev and Luke are saying to them. They’re taking it on board and I can’t fault them at the minute – everyone is unbelievable.”
Dolan is the last person to get carried away by his team being top this early in the campaign: "The league table looks good but I try not to look at it too much. We’re only two months into the season so it’s not something you want to be looking at too much yet.”
Dolan is delighted with Walsh’s form up front and said: “When me, Trev and Sam got the job in the summer, he was one who we said we had to try to keep on board and sign him on and make sure he stayed with us.
"We’re giving him confidence, we’re letting him play, he’s got a bit of a free role but he’s also doing the hard graft we want from him. But he’s doing that because he wants to help the team. I think the boys are demanding that off each other which is a good thing.
"His form in front of goal is crazy – he scored two at Sittingbourne, two on Saturday, and is doing very well. He’s just got to keep it up and not drop off. Hopefully a few other boys will feed off that and can learn from the mentality Washy is showing this season.
"Even though he’s only 24 he’s probably one of our more experienced players and one of our leaders on the pitch. I’m pleased we have leaders like Walshy who can help them team through.
"The way he’s playing, scoring, creating stuff, is what we need to him. But though he’s scoring those goals, they don’t come without the rest of the boys around him, so I’m pleased everyone’s turning up and doing their jobs and working for each other.
"I can’t reiterate enough the togetherness we’ve tried to get into the boys – right from pre-season. Having local lads like Ollie Black and Tom Chalmers in the squad has helped that and me, Trev and Sam are really close and that leads into a real togetheness across us all the players and management.”
Now Dulwich visit United in the Trophy and Dolan is relishing it.
"Dulwich on Saturday will be a very tough game – they’re a very athletic side who move the ball well. I expect them to be a very good possession team,” he said.
"They’re a league above us and it’s a completely different test for the boys.and I think the boys will be relishing the opportunity – because we’re doing well in our league and it’s a chance to test themselves against a side from the league above, even if it’s just testing their own individual ability rather than the team’s.
"They can show what they can do and what they have been doing the past four or five weeks of the season. I’m not expecting us to win 5-0 but if we can carry on doing what we’re doing and give a good performance and a good account of ourselves, especially at home, we’re not a team who are going to back down or shy away from anything at home.
"They’re coming to our place and we’ll try to make it as hard as we can for them but they’re a level above us and we have to give them the respect they deserve."