On-song United blast seven second half goals

Hastings United's footballers scored seven second half goals during a stunning return to form this afternoon (Saturday).
Simon Johnson scored Hastings United's first two goals in the remarkable 7-0 victory. Picture courtesy Scott WhiteSimon Johnson scored Hastings United's first two goals in the remarkable 7-0 victory. Picture courtesy Scott White
Simon Johnson scored Hastings United's first two goals in the remarkable 7-0 victory. Picture courtesy Scott White

United ended a run of five games without a win in all competitions with a crushing 7-0 victory away to Chatham Town in Ryman Football League Division One South.

Simon Johnson and Harry Stannard led the rout with two goals each, and there was one apiece for Matt Bodkin, Frannie Collin and Jack Harris as United matched their biggest win of the season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kiernan Hughes-Mason and fellow new recruit Jaydon Thorbourne went straight into the starting line-up as United contested only their second league fixture this month.

Tom Climpson clipped the top of the crossbar and Collin was denied by a marvellous save late in the first half, while at the start of the second period, Ollie Rowe had a 'goal' chalked off, apparently for a foul.

On a chilly and at times wet afternoon in Medway, United made the breakthrough in the 52nd minute via a terrific 20-yard strike by Johnson into the bottom corner.

The same player doubled United's advantage 20 minutes later by slotting home Bodkin's cut-back and that proved the catalyst for the floodgates to well and truly open.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bodkin went from provider to scorer in the 75th minute, cutting in from the right before finding the bottom corner. Six minutes after that it was 4-0 as Stannard also picked out the corner of the net within a minute of coming on as a substitute.

Harry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott WhiteHarry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott White
Harry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott White

Hughes-Mason played a lovely throughball to tee up Collin for number five in the 83rd minute. With 90 minutes on the clock, Hughes-Mason delivered an inviting cross for Harris to head United's sixth.

There was still time for Stannard to add his second and United's seventh with a lovely curling finish from another Hughes-Mason assist.

United move up to 11th in the table and are eight points behind Hythe Town, who occupy the final play-off spot of fifth, with four games in hand. The U's also now boast the best goal difference of anybody in the division.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

United: Pidgeley, Climpson, Thorbourne, Cruttwell, Davies, Rowe, Bodkin (Stannard), Johnson, Hughes-Mason, Collin (Harris), Cogan (Pritchard). Subs not used: Jarvis, Nicholls. Attendance: 223.

Harry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott WhiteHarry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott White
Harry Stannard struck twice after coming on as a substitute. Picture courtesy Scott White

See our comprehensive sports coverage in the Observer every Friday.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Related topics: