Ray: “It should’ve been a penalty”

Sean Ray felt that Hastings United should have been awarded a potentially match-winning penalty against Hampton & Richmond Borough yesterday (Saturday).

United player-manager Ray was convinced that Bailo Camara was fouled in the 80th minute of the 0-0 draw at The Pilot Field, but the referee waved away the appeals and Jack Dixon’s follow-up was blocked on the line.

He said: “I thought it was a penalty and the linesman up here told us he would’ve given it. We spoke about keeping the momentum going; not just winning games, but keeping clean sheets and being hard to beat so I’m really pleased with that.

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“I thought it was a little bit flat at times. We huffed and puffed a bit, but lacked a little bit of quality in the final third. On another day we could nick a 1-0. Daniel (East, United’s goalkeeper) made two good saves for us, but apart from that most of their chances were from range and so were ours.

“To be fair to Hampton, they knew how we play and they tried to stop us playing by compacting it in midfield. When teams compact it you have to move the ball quickerand at times we didn’t move it quickly enough.

“They were well organised, strong and made it hard for us, but I’m pleased with a point. It’s another point on the board and another one off our target.”

Ryman Premier standings (played-points): 1 Whitehawk 31-63, 2 Wealdstone 29-56, 3 Canvey Island 29-50, 4 Concord Rangers 26-48, 5 Bury Town 30-47, 6 Lowestoft Town 25-46, 7 Margate 28-46, 8 Met Police 27-44, 9 Kingstonian 28-43, 10 Hendon 29-42, 11 Bognor Regis Town 29-39, 12 Leiston 28-38, 13 East Thurrock United 27-36, 14 Hampton & Richmond Borough 26-35, 15 Enfield Town 30-35, 16 Harrow Borough 29-29, 17 Lewes 31-29, 18 Cray Wanderers 29-29, 19 Wingate & Finchley 31-28, 20 HASTINGS UNITED 27-26, 21 Thurrock 24-24, 22 Carshalton Athletic 31-22.

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