CAFC vs Hastings United – Preview
Carshalton Athletic welcome Hastings United to Colston Avenue in the Isthmian Premier on Monday evening.
Robins Review
The Robins secured a 1-0 victory over Hashtag United on Saturday at Colston Avenue following a David Smith headed goal just after half-time. The Result moved Peter Adeniyi’s side up to ninth in the Isthmian Premier Division with 39 points. It is now three unbeaten for the Reds in all competitions. Initially scheduled to take place the weekend before last, our league clash with the U’s had to be postponed following a frozen pitch. Last time out against East-Sussex-based side, Peter Adeniyi’s team were held 1-1 following a David Smith penalty on the stroke of halftime.
Hastings United
Hastings United’s league clash with Chatham Town at the weekend was abandoned following a medical emergency in the crowd.
For Hastings, it has been a tough 2024-25 campaign so far. Currently, the U’s languish inside the drop zone in 20th place on 23 points; however, owing to postponements the club have played the least number of games with just 24 under their belt. Despite a positive start to the season, registering two league wins and advancing in the FA Cup, back-to-back defeats at the hands of Potters Bar Town and Folkestone Invicta ensued a turbulent period. The East-Sussex based side began September by being thrashed 4-0 by Spencer Owen’s Hashtag United, before a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate with Lewes softened the blow. That said, a 3-0 cup defeat at Cray spurred then Manager Danny Bloor to blame his team’s attitude, warning “some heads will roll, and some players won’t be playing for Hastings United any longer”. Against Chatham the following week, the U’s ran out 3-2 winners, so on the face of it, Bloor’s comments had worked. However, successive losses in the league against Dulwich Hamlet and Cheshunt and a goalless draw with Cray Wanderers came about soon after.
Ahead of the FA Trophy tie to Hadley Town, who knocked the Robins out in the third round 3-0, Bloor completed the signing of two new recruits, striker Callum Barlow and defender Finn O’Mara. A former product of the United Academy, Barlow scored a lot of goals for Eastbourne United last year. O’Mara, meanwhile, was a part of Gary Elphick’s league-winning Hastings team of 2022, he is a centre-back by trade. Unfortunately for the U’s, Barlow was cup-tied for the Hadley fixture and thus not eligible to play in the game. The U’s would end up falling to defeat after a dramatic 87th-minute penalty sent the Step 4 side through in the Trophy. Twenty-four hours later, Bloor, who was only appointed manager last May, received a call from director Ben White telling him that his five-month stint at the helm was over, and assistant Sean Ray took over stewardship.
Ray guided the U’s to a comfortable 2-0 win over Whitehawk, but two games in two weeks against teams in the top four of the Isthmian Premier, Wingate & Finchley and Cray Valley PM, did not help carry forward the momentum as Hastings lost both. Interestingly enough, the Cray match marked three months since they were last at home. Unfortunately for Hastings, a 9-0 hammering at the hands of Hendon followed. That said, when the Robins travelled to The Pilot Field Stadium towards the end of November, Adeniyi’s side were held 1-1 by a spirited U’s. However, Dartford dispatched them 3-0 a few days later.
The following month commenced with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Cray Valley PM to progress through to the Velocity Cup Fifth Round, before an emphatic 3-2 away win against Chichester City in the league and a hard-fought stalemate with promotion hopefuls Billericay Town. Back-to-back league defeats to Bowers & Pitsea and Dover Athletic ensued – there would be temporary relief in the form of a Boxing Day win versus Bognor Regis Town – until a 3-1 New Years Day loss against Folkestone Invicta. Since then, Folkestone secured a 3-0 victory over the U’s on New Year’s Day, before a two-week period of postponements saw the club’s next game come against Cray Wanderers at the weekend where the Wands edged them 2-1. To rub salt in the wound Isthmian League South Central Division One Binfield knocked the U’s out in the Velocity Cup Quarter-Finals 2-1.
Over the last couple of seasons, Hastings have garnered a reputation for finishing just outside the play-off places in the Isthmian Premier, consolidating themselves in and around seventh and eighth. This comes after the U’s won the Isthmian League South East Division in the 2021-22 campaign and were promoted to the third tier of non-league.
Likely line-ups
Carshalton Athletic
Foley, Sankoh, Atewologun, Read, Paul-Lavaly, Saraiva, Frimpong, Bradford ©, Ghannam, Smith, Ifeanyi
Hastings United
Rogers, McKay, Kpakpe, Dixon, O’Mara, Black, Rodari, Wells, Walker, Lovatt ©, Legg
Team news
Carshalton Athletic
Expect a fully fit Carshalton Athletic outfit.
Hastings United
Sutton United goalkeeper Matt Kerbey temporarily filled in between the sticks for the U’s over the festive period while Louis Rogers recovered from injury. The first choice shot-stopper returned against Folkestone and Kerbey went back to Gander Green Lane.
Pre-Match Analysis
Hastings have the second-worst defensive record in the Isthmian Premier Division. The U’s have conceded 49 times in the 2024-25 campaign, only Bognor Regis Town have let in more goals with 68. They have also scored the joint least number of goals with Bowers & Pitsea, the clubs have only managed to find the net 25 times.
Following the Cray Wanderers 2-1 defeat on Saturday, Manager Danny Searle expressed his concern regarding his side’s inability to defend free kicks.
“We can’t defend set pieces the way we are at the moment. Folkestone was the same; you can’t expect it not to cause problems or concede goals. Cray didn’t have a shot on target in the first half apart from the two set pieces, yet we find ourselves 2-1 down. The basic fundamentals of defending are you get goal side of your man and make sure he doesn’t get in front of you; they’ve failed to do that on both occasions.”
Searle also went on to emphasise his frustrations surrounding Hasting’s struggles with scrambling the ball clear from danger.
Key Player
Goalkeeper Louis Rogers may only have five clean sheets to his name this season; however, he has been the one bright spark for the U’s following a plethora of excellent saves. Mr reliable between the sticks, Rogers is a fan favourite.
The Gaffer
Following the departure of Danny Bloor at the end of October, coach Sean Ray was appointed on a temporary basis while the club searched for Bloor’s permanent replacement. Eventually, Danny Searle was appointed on December 6, Searle has quite the non-league pedigree having previously managed at Braintree, Aldershot, and Ebbsfleet United, all of which hold current National League status. He also held the position of Head of Coaching at Premier League outfit West Ham United.
Searle said: “I’m delighted to be here, it’s a Club with huge potential, a great fan base and a group of players that are capable of climbing the table. I’ve met with the Board and their passion for the Club is the reason I am here.”
Match Details
Date: Monday, January 27, 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kick-off: 07:45 pm
Admission: £11, £8, £5 (online prices) on the gate is a pound dearer.
Tickets: Buy online tickets here
For our full matchday guide please click here
