Mixed feelings for U’s boss

Hastings United winger Taser Hassan (red shirt) tries to take on the Whitstable Town defence at The Pilot Field on Monday night. Picture courtesy Terry S. Blackman

The U’s began their 2014/15 Ryman Football League Division One South campaign with an impressive 2-0 win away to Walton Casuals on Saturday before being held to a slightly disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Whitstable Town on Monday night.

Speaking after the Whitstable game, White said: “There’s an old saying isn’t there ‘don’t pop the champagne corks when things are going well and don’t pop the pills when they’re not’ so I’m somewhere in between those at the minute.

“I’m delighted with Saturday, not overly chuffed with tonight. Sometimes the way you look at games is governed by results. Had we taken our chances and won 2-0 tonight, everybody would’ve said ‘that’s great, four goals, two clean sheets, six points’. But we didn’t get it, we got a point and we’ve got to move on.”

United triumphed at Walton thanks to a goal in either half from Ronnie Dolan - his first for the club - and Ade Olorunda, his first for United since December 2010.

Frankie Sawyer put United ahead with 20 minutes remaining against Whitstable only for the north Kent outfit to equalise five minutes later.

Of the Whitstable match, White said: “We had enough chances to have won a couple of games; we didn’t take them. They looked reasonably dangerous on the break.

“They’ve come and done a job, and got what they came for. You’ve only got to listen to their dressing room to know they’re happy with a point and ours is like a morgue.

“We weren’t clinical enough and we didn’t play well. Saturday we played really well. We won 2-0 and played as well.

“Teams are going to come down here this year, sit tight and hopefully catch us on the break. We’ve got to be good enough and clinical enough to deal with it, and when we get our chances, we’ve got to take them.”

United have already picked up a couple of injuries, something which hindered them during the closing stages of last term.

Ronnie Dolan was stretchered off during the second half at Walton having taken a heavy blow on the top of his foot and White estimated the midfielder would be sidelined for a week to 10 days depending on when the bruising comes out. Jordan Johnson’s groin went during the first half against Whitstable.

“I’m quite pleased with what I’ve got, but if somebody comes up who’s going to improve what I’ve got and it’s within the budget limit, then I will take them,” added White.

United will be back at The Pilot Field today (Saturday) against a Chipstead side which has won both of its matches so far. The U’s will then head to Redhill on Tuesday night.

TODAY’S FOOTBALL FIXTURES

(Kick-off 3pm)

Ryman League, Division 1 South: Hastings Utd v Chipstead.

Macron Store Sussex County League, Division 2: Westfield v Rustington.

Peter Bentley Challenge Cup, 1st round: Little Common v Bexhill Utd.