Two defeats won’t put Hastings United off-course – Dolan has strong belief in squad
Ronnie Dolan says he has great belief in his Hastings United players to come out the other side of a dip that’s brought back-to-back Isthmian South East division home defeats.
United lost 1-0 in both Saturday’s clash with high-flying Faversham and Tuesday’s against lower-placed Deal Town.
The lack of points has seen them slip to fourth place, but they’re only two points behind leaders Whistable as they try to recover with tomorrow’s trip to Cray Valley PM.
Dolan was disappointed with the losses but is not about to rip up his blueprint and start again.
Faversham won with a 30th minute spot-kick and United skipper Tom Chalmers was sent off in the final moments for two yellow cards.
Dolan said: “The Faversham game was a case of us giving them a little bit too much respect. They are a good team – well-organised – and are going to be there or thereabouts this season. And you can see why they are title favourites – they’ve got great experience and some great players for this level.
"But I think we turned up giving them too much respect from the get-go and that carried on through the whole game and we didn’t really test them like I know we could have done, or how we have tested other teams this season.
"That’s disappointing from us but we’ve been fantastic up until now so I’m not going to grumble after we’ve played a team who are near the top of the league and are favourites to win it.
"We were still in the game until the very end so we’re staying in games and not getting rolled over which is good. It’s one of those where you have to dust yourselves off and move on."
On Chalmers' red card, Dolan said: “I don’t really understand what he got the first yellow for. He was talking to the ref and the ref chucked a yellow out when they were wasting time. If your captain can’t talk to the ref, then who can?
"The second yellow I think was just frustration boiling over from him at the very end. He’ll be suspended on Saturday so we’ll make do without him.
"The Deal was game was very frustrating. As I said before that game, the league table doesn’t do them justice. They’re in a false position in my eyes – like Cray Valley, who we face on Saturday.
"Deal are a good team who have been at the level for a long time and have players who have been together a while. They’re very organised and they did a job on us – they had one shot on target in the 85th minute and it happened to be a goal. Whether we put that down to a lapse in concentration, or down to moments … this game was more down to fine margins.
"We had four or five really good attempts at goal but we need to be putting these chances away. It’s good we’re still creating chances but bad we’re not taking them. I’m positive over the fact we’re still creating them.
"Against Faversham we didn’t create much but against Faversham we created some good openings – we hit the post, had a one-on-one, their keeper made a great save and there were a couple of other chances. I’m happy we’re still creating."
Dolan is disappointed but not overly alarmed at the past two results.
"Our home form has taken a dip. In the FA Trophy game conditions played a part and in that game – like the Faversham – we gave them too much respect. And in the Deal game we dominated for 80 minutes then conceded a goal,” he said.
"Up until the Faversham game we’d scored in every game so I don’t put it down to anything in particular – it’s one of those things that happens in any football season.
"You’re not going to go along winning every game or scoring in every one, but I’m still positive and upbeat about what we’re doing. I’m fine with the team and the squad and everything we’re doing and how the boys are listening to what we want.
"Anyone who has consistency will do well – look at Whitstable with eight or so wins on the bounce and now they’re top.
"We’re a very young squad – and a new squad this season – so bits of naivety will set in and learning will be a part of it and it’s down to us to help each other through it, and pick out the moments where can do better it and rectify it."
The chance to do so comes at Cray Valley PM tomorrow. They sit 20th going into the weekend.
"The Cray Valley game is another against a team I think are in a false league position. On paper it looks a perfect chance for us to go and get back to winning ways, and I’d love nothing more than for us to go and win. But I also there’s players in their team who can hurt us if we’re not on our game,” Dolan said.
"There are some real threats in their team so we have to be at it from the beginning. We won’t take them lightly. Me, Sam (Adams) and Trevor (McCreadie) have discussed threats that they have and we’ll have reiterated that to the players and have a plan in place to try to go out and win the game. We have to be at our best and I’m sure if we are, we will win.”