We don’t fear anyone at home – Dolan relishing Hastings United’s five-game Pilot Field sequence

Pilot Field wins over Erith Town and Eastbourne Town have put United four points clear at the top of the Isthmian South East. Now they have another three home games in an 11-day spell to try to strengthen their claims for league and trophy success. Waltham Abbey – who play at the same step as the Us but in the Southern League Central – are tomorrow’s visitors for a Trophy first-round tie before Faversham and Deal arrive for league games on October 31 and November 3.

A Kes Clarke penalty and an own goal saw ten-man Erith beaten 2-0 last Saturday, then second half strikes from Clarke, Warren Mfula and Ayo Olasimbo clinched a 3-1 midweek win over Eastbourne Town.

Dolan said: “In the Erith game, the first half-hour was quite even – we matched each other well. I felt we were, not comfortable but well in the game. Their goalkeeper’s sending-off put us in control and we didn’t look like we were going to lose the game.

"It can be harder to play against 10 men but to score from the penalty after the red card, then coming out in the second half and getting an early goal, put the game to bed.

"The second half was a formality and was about getting the three points and getting it done, which we did.

"The clean sheet was good – good for the back-line and good for Harry (Haines, keeper). It was a very good win against a team who are chasing our tails.

"The game against Eastbourne Town was what you expect from a derby really. Eastbourne may not have, without being disrespectful, don’t have great quality but they work hard and don’t give up many balls. They make it horrible for you and for them, coming to our place in front of 1,100 fans, is a bit of a cup final for them – most teams are going to treat it like that when they come to our place.

"You get that many fans on a Tuesday night, as much as it’s a bonus for us, it’s also a plus for the opposition too because it’s a proper game of football for them. It picks up their tails.

"But I didn’t feel we were under any real pressure. I know in the last few minutes Harry had a save to make, but the belief I’ve got in our boys and the squad and in the character we’re showing, I don’t see us not winning games at the minute – especially at home.

"That’s good for us to have that belief in them, and they believe in themselves. At the moment there’s no reason for us not be winning games.

"We were comfortably on top – more so in the second half, when they were penned in their box a lot more. It was just about us putting the ball in the net and getting the job done. We should have scored more goals but it was three points and that is all that matters.

"I always thought we would get the goals. Making the changes that we did, bringing on Warren (Hugues Mfula) who got the second goal and Ayo (Olasimbo), who got the third, it was crucial for us to get those goals.

"I keep saying it to the boys – that is why we have a squad and everyone in the squad is going to play their part, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench.”

"Kes did really well for 80 minutes and then Warren came on for him and put us 2-1 up, then Ayo came on and put the nail in the coffin. It’s great to have a squad and these are the reasons you have one."

Clarke is proving his worth up front – he has scored five goals in the last nine, and has seven in total this season, after Dolan and Co plucked him from step five Larkfield and New Hythe.

"Kes is doing reallty well for us – he’s only 21, he’s found his shooting boots at the moment but he’s doing the other side of the game really, really well. We ask for a lot of hard graft from him and he’s doing it.

"It’s frustrating for him at times because what we want him to do, and how we want to stop teams getting out, is probably taking away a bit of his game, but he’s listening and taking on board everything we want.

"In the second half against Eastbourne he was a real handful for their centre halves and he probably could have had one or two more. They just couldn’t handle him – he was beating them with the turn of pace he has. He’s quite strong on the ball too.

“In pre-season when we earmarked him we could see he scored 22 or 23 goals last season at step five for Larkfield and New Hythe in Kent. I know Jamal King – who used to play for Hastings – over there so I asked some questions about whether he was someone we could work with and progress, and he was like “100 per cent – bring him in.

"Me, Sam (Adams) and Trev (McCreadie) here all know Jamal well and now Kes is doing it for himself. We tell him what we need him to do and he’s only 21 so we have to bite our tongue on some things because he’s not going to be perfect. He's doing a lot of good things and is someone we can keep working with and I’m sure the way he’s listening and working hard means he’s going to get more rewards out of it.”

Now it’s Trophy time and the clash with Waltham Abbey.

Dolan said: "For the FA Trophy game, hopefully we can get another big crowd. To get 1,100 on a Tursday night was amazing and the boys are really feeling it as well. When we got those second and third goals and the roars went up, that was really good for them.

"It’s unbelievable and on Saturday we’d like another big crowd to get us through to the next round. We’ll have done some due diligence on Waltham Abbey and we’ll give them respect but at the same time we don’t – and shouldn’t – fear anyone when they’re coming to our place.

"IWe wanted to make it a fortress when we came in and that’s what we’ve got at the moment. But we still have to be switched on and have to be up for it and apply ourselves the right way to get through to the next round.

"It’s a great opportunity for us as a club to get through and if we can, we could draw a big National League team in the next round. If we did and were at home I’d fancy us against anyone, but let’s take Saturday first and try to give a good account of ourselves and get through.”