Kentish Football 
Festive Match Reports: Hastings United begin search for new boss
www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you some match reports from over the festive period.
Also, we bring you a statement issued by Hastings United, following the departure of their manager Nigel Kane (a former Beckenham Town player) the day after their 1-0 defeat at Folkestone Invicta on Boxing Day.
Indeed, I know that Hastings are an east Sussex club, but there are many managers based here in Kent that may be interested in trying to save the Ryman Premier League club from relegation.
Chatham Town 1-2 Chipstead
By John Crow
Chatham Town’s lack of firepower upfront once again cost them dear at the Maidstone Road Ground on Saturday, as Chipstead came from behind to take all three points with another desperately late goal conceded by the home side.
The Chats got off to the perfect start, sweeping into the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
Mark Brooks it was who got the goal, capitalising upon early hesitancy among the Chipstead defence - as he took the ball round ‘keeper Andy Parkinson, on the right of the 18-yard box, before casually stroking it into the far corner of the Luton End goal.
Chatham had almost added to their lead in the fifth minute, when a stunning long clearance from John Whitehouse was taken by Pat Bishenden on the first bounce in the other penalty area - drawing a somewhat fortunate save from Parkinson, as he blocked the shot with his legs.
Then, in the 13th minute, all eyes were on the other end of the field. Danny Oakins looked to be offside when the ball was played through to him, and he was clearly struggling to keep up with it on the greasy surface as he chased into the penalty box.
With the ball running away from him, and already heading away from the goalmouth, Oakins crashed to the ground in a windmill of arms and legs, as Whitehouse came off his line.
Referee Mr Ian Crouch had no hesitation in pointing to the Penalty Spot and, after a pause to show the yellow card to a bemused Whitehouse, up stepped Oakins to fire into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.
The Chats came desperately close to regaining the lead in the 24th minute, after Sam Groombridge - in for an injured Ross Finn - spotted Parkinson well off his line. Despite being all of 35 yards out from goal, Groombridge clearly fancied his chances and let go with a high looping shot that had the Chipstead ‘keeper back pedalling frantically.
Sadly, the well-taken attempt scraped the top of the crossbar - and Parkinson’s blushes were spared.
Four minutes later, and Brooks once again got away from his man on the right, and took the ball past three defenders before firing in a great cross from the edge of the 18-yard box. The ball narrowly eluded the head of Bishenden, on the edge of the six-yard box, but was cleared only as far as skipper Darren Smith who let fly with a stinging shot from 30 yards that the ‘keeper somehow managed to cling onto right on the goal line.
With Chipstead not having proved to be much of a threat, the final chance of the Half also fell to the Chats in the 42nd minute.
Once again, it was that man Brooks who did the damage on the right wing - opting to cross the ball, rather than having a go himself, only for Bishenden to head the ball straight at Parkinson from seven yards.
The start of the second half saw Craig Govey on in place of Groombridge, just before the hour mark, however, it was Matt Solly’s turn to test the visiting ‘keeper with a high ball into the six-yard box from deep on the right.
Parkinson came to claim, but instead allowed the ball to slip through his fingers - just managing to reclaim it under pressure before one of the Chatham forwards could turn it over the line.
The first chance of the second half for the visitors finally came in the 64th minute.
Once again the ball fell to Oakins, who put the ball tamely wide of the left upright from just inside the 18-yard box, with only Whitehouse to beat.
A second substitution for the Chats saw Brad King replace Tom Davey, and he was straight into the thick of the action - forcing Parkinson into another good save in the 72nd minute, when he managed to hang onto a powerful cross/shot from a narrow angle on the right.
With the game increasingly looking to be heading for another draw, some good play from Govey wide on the left in the 79th minute saw him put over a cross that Parkinson literally snatched off the head of Bishenden.
Then, four minutes later, and against the run of play Chipstead scored what proved to be the winning goal.
Once again it was a quick break by the visitors that did the damage, with Danny Larkin throwing himself into the path of a powerful effort from Oakins on the edge of the Penalty Area.
As the ball ran free, however, Lee Sidwell was quickest to react squeezing the ball home from the narrowest of angles on the right before anyone else could react.
The defeat sees the Chats drop to 17th in Division One South of the Ryman League, though they can perhaps take some small consolation from the fact that they now have games in hand over most of the sides around them.
Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, Davey (King 64), Goodger, D Larkin, Best, Smith, Brooks, Bishenden, Solly, Groombridge (Govey 45).
Subs: Botterill, Oravec
Referee: Mr Ian Crouch (New Eltham)
Attendance: 103
Att.: 103
Croydon 1-1 Erith & Belvedere
By Thomas Hawes
Erith & Belvedere goal-machine Nick Smith saw red after a controversial incident, but Erith managed to hold on for a point and were unlucky not to take all three.
After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, Croydon edged ahead on 20 minutes.
The ball was fed in to Trams frontman Matt Knuckey on the edge of the area, who couldn’t believe his luck when he found himself with no defender within five yards of him and duly capitalised with a good first touch and finish past Matt Bromby.
Whilst Croydon’s goal was down to slack defending, Erith’s goal was all the goalkeeper’s fault.
On the half hour mark, Adrian Deane cut inside from the right-wing and unleashed a poor effort from 35 yards out.
Trams keeper John Henry appeared to initially think that the ball was heading wide, but realised it was goalbound too late and although he scrambled to get the ball, it was too late as a wicked bounce left Henry with no chance and gave Deane his first goal since rejoining the Deres from Erith Town.
Shortly after this, Henry dived at full stretch for a shot that was clearly heading wide and it was clear that Henry was a man lacking confidence.
Erith had the kick-off in the second period and Matt Johnson’s 55-yard attempt would set the scene for things to come.
The key incident of the match came 10 minutes into the second period. Croydon’s Ricardo Harvey tussled with Deres midfielder Lee Morgan and after the ball was further upfield, Harvey threw Morgan to the ground.
The referee had his back to the incident, but the assistant referee on the near side would have been expected to see what was going on.
However, he didn’t and an irate Deres side and management confronted him.
After a lengthy conversation with the linesman, the referee called Nick Smith across and brandished a red card after Smith had supposedly spoken out of turn to the assistant. Harvey, meanwhile, escaped without punishment.
A minute later, Deres boss Chris Cosgrove was sent to the stands and a minute after this Lee Morgan was brought off after things threaten to boil over.
On 59 minutes, Croydon had a glorious chance to capitalised on their numerical advantage, but the impressive Matt Bromby snuffed out the opportunity.
Ten minutes later, Johnson once again fired from long-range but this time it was a genuine attempt on goal rather than an attempt to drop Henry’s confidence to an all-time low.
Henry though managed to get down and palm the ball away for a Deres corner.
At the other end on 73 minutes, Harvey was once again involved in the action and so was Matt Bromby, who was alert to save his shot from 12 yards out.
Despite being down to ten men Erith could quite easily have snatched all three points.
Aiden Pursglove’s 25-yard strike was worthy of testing the very best goalkeepers and Henry was equal to this challenge as he made another good save.
Pursglove again nearly found the back of the net when his outstretched leg was inches away from diverting Nathan Bell’s cross goalbound.
Croydon also had to clear the ball off of their goal-line with eight minutes remaining, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result
Although the result means that Erith drop to ninth, the Deres unbeaten run is now up to four games going into next week’s clash against Tunbridge Wells at Park View Road, which sees goalkeeper Bromby come up against his former club.
Erith & Belvedere: Bromby, Bedford, Gibson (Scowen 61), Morgan (Browne 57), Holder, Farley, Deane, Johnson, Smith, Pursglove (White 82), Bell.
Subs: Hardie, Benevente.
Attendance: 67
Ramsgate 2-1 Folkestone Invicta
By Richard Murrill
An 86th minute free kick from Ramsgate substitute Dan Dolton condemned Folkestone Invicta to a ninth successive away defeat in all competitions in their last game of 2007 at the Southwood Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Invicta had topped the away-day league table earlier in the season but their woes on the road have followed since an impressive goalless draw away to AFC Wimbledon back in early October.
But as at AFC Hornchurch earlier in December, the Folkestone side were beaten by a late goal when they had appeared to have been on course for a share of the spoils.
All three goals in Saturday’s Kent derby came during the final 20 minutes and each could be described as soft.
The home side opened the scoring in the 72nd minute when the danger initially seemed to have gone following a Steffan Ball corner from the right hand side but Lee Minshull volleyed the ball back into the penalty area and it ricocheted into the path of captain Warren Schulz who found the net.
But just as Invicta were cursing their luck, they equalised in similar circumstances four minutes later when a free kick from the left led to a scramble in the Ramsgate penalty area and with Leigh Bremner putting the ball in towards the goal it eventually went in off home centre half Dan Tanner.
It was the first goal Invicta had scored in four Ryman Premier League games against bogey side Ramsgate.
But Jim Ward’s side were to go on to record a fourth successive league win over Neil Cugley’s side with a late set piece.
The winning goal came direct from a free kick from substitute Dolton – who had only been on the pitch for minutes – which beat both the Invicta wall and 18-year-old goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge.
The set piece had been awarded after Invicta centre half Frankie Chappell had brought down Ramsgate striker Ball as he ran through.
Two minutes earlier, Ball had missed a clear chance to restore his side’s lead when he fired over after being given on-side and put clean through by Dean Hill.
Chasing a late second equaliser, Invicta replaced defender Samuel Kola Okikiolu with striker Damian Abel and the substitute hooked the ball at goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson with a 90th minute strike on goal from outside the penalty area when a free kick from the left came back out.
At the other end, Ball put the ball into the side netting at the far post when substitute Dolton broke down the left and his low cross flashed just in front of fellow substitute Stuart Vahid in the middle.
Charlie Glyde fired over from outside the penalty area with the game’s last chance, but there was to be no way back for Invicta.
The Folkestone side went into the game with the same starting line up which had beaten Hastings United on Boxing Day, a result which was followed by the departure of manager Nigel Kane from the Sussex club.
On an un-seasonally sunny afternoon, chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges.
Ball played a one-two with Michael Phillips but fired well wide after five minutes and Phillips hit a free kick over the crossbar after 25 minutes following an infringement by Glyde.
The home side then hit the crossbar in the 27th minute with a well-struck shot from Andy Hadden following a Laurence Ball pass and Chappell got in to clear when Minshull could not control the rebound.
At the other end, Ramsgate goalkeeper Wilkerson clawed Bremner’s ball in from the right away for Invicta’s corner of the game on the half hour mark.
There was controversy five minutes later when Bremner and Ramsgate defender Nick Davis were booked following a flare up on the touchline, with Davis appearing to make contact with his head.
The best chance of the first half well to Ramsgate when Ball fired wide across goal in the 40th minute when Minshull got in behind the Invicta defence from a Wilkerson clearance.
The first half finished with a booking for Invicta captain Kevin Watson for use of his arm on Minshull after he had appeared to be fouled.
Bremner played in a dangerous 51st minute ball from the left hand side but the visitors did not have anybody in the middle to capitalise.
Two minutes later, Okikiolu cleared in the middle when Minshull and Ball combined to free Schulz down the left flank.
Ramsgate’s Hill was then booked for a rash 55th minute challenge on Liam Friend following a Bremner touch.
Bremner shot wide after 57 minutes when a Watson ball from the right fell to Micheal Everitt inside the box and Ramsgate centre half Tanner somehow escaped punishment for bringing Bremner down on the right hand side of the penalty area after the striker was in full flight.
Ramsgate left back Hill got forward and scooped the ball over the crossbar from close range in the 62nd minute when under pressure from Okikiolu in a move also involving Ben Laslett, Minshull and Schulz.
Bremner showed great skill to latch onto a 67th minute Watson ball down the right hand side but could not get enough power on his shot and Wilkerson was able to get down and save.
But this was again to be Ramsgate’s afternoon, with local darts hero Kirk Shepherd having completed his win over Peter Manley in a televised quarter final of the PDC World Championships at the Alexandra Palace just prior to kick off.
Ramsgate: Wilkerson, Ball, Hill, Davis, Tanner, Haslett (Dolton 81), Hadden, Schulz (Graham 90), Minshull, Ball, Phillips (Vahid 69).
Subs: King, Alliston.
Folkestone Invicta: Stonebridge, Watson, Friend, Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu (Abel 87), Glyde, Shittu, Bremner, Saunders (J. Everitt 81), M. Everitt.
Subs: Sly, Burchell, Conyers.
Attendance: 411
Erith & Belvedere 3-2 Sevenoaks Town
By Thomas Hawes
A brace from Nick Smith and a goal from strike-partner Aiden Pursglove earned Erith & Belvedere their first league win since the 4-2 triumph over Thamesmead Town in November.
Erith had the first opportunity of the match, when with nine minutes on the clock, Smith was put through on goal.
Smith’s shot was well-saved and Adrian Deane’s follow-up attempt was blocked by an Oaks defender.
Sevenoaks had picked up four points against Thamesmead Town and Erith Town in recent weeks and it was therefore no surprise that they had their fair share of possession in the first period.
The Deres though were to take the lead with 25 minutes played. Matt Johnson pinged the ball out wide to John Farley, who had stayed forward after a previous Deres attack had broken down.
Defender Farley did well to get any sort of cross in, but the ball came just too late for Smith.
Smith’s strike-partner Aiden Pursglove was running in at the back-post though and guided the ball home with a half-volley.
Sevenoaks responded well, forcing Deres keeper Matt Bromby, who was making his home debut having signed from Tunbridge Wells, into making a number of good saves to keep the Deres in the lead.
On 32 minutes, Erith doubled their advantage on the counter-attack. Smith was fed through and reached the ball before the onrushing Oaks goalkeeper Jamie Williams.
The former Lordswood striker kept his cool to find the back of the net and give the Deres a 2-0 cushion.
The scoreline was harsh on the visitors who had given a decent account of themselves in the opening half an hour.
Sevenoaks were to dominate the last ten minutes of the half, hitting the post on 40 minutes.
With a minute before half-time they grabbed a goal back when a chipped free-kick caught the Deres unprepared. Ex-Whitstable striker Andy Constable nodded the ball past Bromby to give Sevenoaks Town hope of salvaging something from the game.
A minute later, Oaks were level when Dave Armstrong capitalised on a Farley error before embarking on a mazy run rounded off with a neat finish to make it
2-2.
Having thrown away the lead in the closing stages of the first half, you would have expected Erith to lack momentum at the start of the second period.
In reality, Erith were to dominate the second half, playing some great football in the process.
On 49 minutes, Matt Johnson’s long-range effort thudded against the crossbar. Five minutes later, Smith saw his shot deflected inches wide, whilst on 70 minutes Smith shot looked destined to find the back of the net, but the ball swerved late on and struck the inside of the post and away from the goal.
Lee Morgan and Adrian Deane also came close for the Deres, but with 11 minutes remaining the breakthrough finally came.
Substitute Sam Prett’s rocket of a shot crashed against the underside of the bar. Oaks keeper Williams fell to the floor to dive on the ball, but the bounce deceived him.
The ball seemed to be in the air for an eternity, but Smith eventually nodded it into the net for his eleventh goal of the season.
Erith & Belvedere: Bromby, Gibson, Farley, Morgan, Gross, Holder, Deane, Johnson, Smith, Pursglove (Friskey 83), Bell (Prett 73).
Attendance: 63
Folkestone Invicta 1-0 Hastings United
By Richard Murrill
Folkestone Invicta were given some festive cheer when a 64th minute header from Frankie Chappell gave them a much-needed victory in a hard-fought Boxing Day afternoon encounter against Hastings United.
19-year-old centre half Chappell scored for the second successive game when he rose to meet Kevin Watson’s ball into the penalty area.
The all-important goal came following a corner on the right after a Damian Abel shot had been deflected out for the set piece when a good touch from Richard Shittu released Glyde and he played the ball into substitute Abel’s path.
It had looked like being one of those days for Neil Cugley’s side as they went in goalless at the interval despite dominating the first half.
And there were some anxious moments during the second half, with centre half Samuel Kola Okikiolu magnificent on his 50th starting appearance for the club in front of 18-year-old goalkeeper Luke Stonebridge and alongside teenage defenders Liam Friend, Tom Bryant and Chappell.
As in their previous game away to Wealdstone, Invicta had several chances to score during the first half without hitting the target.
Captain Watson set the ball rolling when his 15th minute strike from 30 yards took everyone by surprise and was saved but not held by visiting goalkeeper Lee Worgan.
A ball into the penalty area from the left hand side just eluded Mark Saunders a minute later and Glyde hit a 17th minute shot wide of the far post when a Leigh Bremner ball fell to him on the edge of the penalty area.
Worgan then kept out a good 21st minute strike from Shittu when Bremner played him through after a Watson ball out of defence.
And Shittu headed wide with a good chance at the far post two minutes later when Watson sent over a corner from the right hand side.
A first half injury to Bremner did not seem to put Invicta out of their stride as Shittu could not quite force the ball in from close range in the 24th minute when left back Liam Friend met a deep Watson free kick from the right with a strong header.
It had been all Invicta up until the half hour mark when Okikiolu slid back to make a saving tackle on Ade Olorunda as Hastings won their first corner of the game. And Friend had to hook the ball away at the far post from the subsequent set piece.
Okikiolu then denied Ade Olorunda again in the 33rd minute following more trickery from the Hastings striker in the penalty area.
Olorunda’s younger brother Tim hardly endeared himself to home supporters with a lunge at Saunders.
But the visitors were nearly punished from the subsequent Watson free kick when Rhys Whyborne cleared off the line after a strong far post header from Chappell.
Invicta were close again following another Watson free kick from the right after 39 minutes, while Tim Olorunda fired wide from the right hand side of the penalty area after 43 minutes.
And there was a scare for Invicta during first half stoppage time when Saunders had to clear from close to the line after a dangerous low ball in from the left hand side of the penalty area.
A long shot from Antonio Gonnella was deflected for a corner after 50 minutes and seconds later Invicta goalkeeper Stonebridge did well to keep out a Gonnella thunderbolt from outside the penalty area.
Abel fired just wide of the far post across goal in the 54th minute following some good pace and skill on the right hand side in a move also involving Saunders and Watson.
Bryant blocked an Ade Olorunda shot for a corner when Gonnella touched the ball back after 55 minutes and striker Olorunda fired wide from the right hand side of the penalty area a minute later.
At the other end, Friend got forward again a curled a shot just high and wide from outside the penalty area after 61 minutes.
Following Invicta’s goal, Tim Olorunda was soon booked for leaving a foot in on Bryant after 66 minutes.
Hastings pressed for an equaliser as Sam Adams headed over from close range following a 72nd minute corner on the left and Adams shot just over from the right hand side of the penalty area two minutes later.
A 75th minute shot from substitute Russell Eldridge was deflected for a corner when he had a chance to equalise at the far post and right back Ryan Andrews then let fly from distance.
Hastings centre half Kevin Rose was booked for bringing down Shittu when the Invicta striker broke clear into the visitors’ half after 78 minutes.
Captain Jimmy Elford fired over from distance as the result was still in doubt going into the final ten minutes.
Invicta centre half Bryant then made a vital clearance from close to his goal line when substitute Frankie Sawyer put in a dangerous low ball across goal from the right hand side of the penalty area.
Folkestone Invicta: Stonebridge, Watson, Friend, Chappell, Bryant, Okikiolu, Glyde, Shittu, Bremner (Abel 22), Saunders, M. Everitt.
Subs: Sly, J. Everitt, Burchell, Conyers.
Hastings United: Worgan, Andrews, Elford, Whyborne, Rose, Kirkwood (Eldridge 65), Gonnella (Sawyer 86), T. Olorunda, A. Olorunda, Adams, Carey.
Subs: Russell, Spice, Seitsonen.
Attendance: 445
Deal Town 3-1 Faversham Town
By Tony Gray
A first minute strike from Mark Pollard and two goals from Aaron Robinson sealed all three points for the home side in this Kent Premier League fixture.
A well disciplined Deal Town side punished the Lilywhites who, apart from a ten minute spell in the second half, looked second best throughout.
Within seconds of the kick-off Faversham found themselves a goal behind, the ball finding Pollard on the edge of the penalty area. Unchallenged Pollard's low driven strike found the bottom right of Rob Hudson's goal.
Stunned by the early goal Faversham Town never really recovered and were consistently guilty of gifting the ball to the opposition.
Retention of the ball was poor and their only options appeared to lie in hopeful long balls through to Dane Luchford and Matt Carruthers up front although former Lilywhite keeper Jurgen Wild was never really troubled in the Deal goal.
On 31 minutes the home side extended their lead, Michael Cassar intercepted a poorly cleared ball on the right hand side and crossed the ball into the feet of Aaron Robinson who made no mistake from close range.
The second half saw an improvement in the visitors performance as they looked for a way back into the match the best chance falling to Luchford whose 55th minute effort flew high over Wild's crossbar.
Robinson bagged his second of the afternoon when he found himself on the end of a Danny Smith cross, Robinson's precise half-volley easily beating Hudson in the goal.
Luchford should have pulled a goal back for the Lilywhites, his run into the box saw him with only Wild to beat, Luchford opted to cut the ball back into the six-yard area rather than take on the shot allowing the Deal defence to clear.
The resulting corner falling to Darren Constable whose volley smashed against the post.
Karl Barron and Julian Beal were brought on to replace Luchford and Rhys Taylor-Ryall respectively.
Skipper Tom Hickman scored a late consolation goal for Faversham Town on 88 minutes - Carruthers’ cross was fumbled by Wild with Hickman being the first to react as he slotted home from close range.
Kingstonian 1-2 Ashford Town
By Jack Wilson
Steve Lovell chalked up his first win as Ashford Town boss as his side put in an inspired performance to beat promotion chasing Kingstonian.
Paul Jones gave the Nuts and Bolts the lead on 21 minutes when he slotted in unchallenged inside the K’s area, but the hosts were soon level when Nick Rundell’s deflected shot flew past Jamie Riley.
And, despite being on the back foot for the best part of the second half, Ashford threw the form book out the window, grabbing a late winner courtesy of Mark Lovell to give Ashford’s fans some much-needed Christmas cheer.
Although regardless of the relative league positions of the sides, the result was certainly no fluke.
Lovell’s men – helped out my a bowling-green like pitch - looked quick, slick and well-drilled, and showed plenty of signs that they may well be bonding into a force that on paper, they threaten to be.
In the absence of the suspended Sean Ray, Lee Hockey was Ashford Town’s rock, victorious in all aerial battles throughout.
Covering captain Ryan Briggs was Ashford’s heartbeat in the middle, and Jones led the line putting in a performance that the vintage Ashford Town fans know that he is capable of.
Infact it was Jones who was on hand early on to give the visitors the advantage. Nick Barnes’ whipped in cross was missed by the Kingstonian defence, leaving Hockey to shoot six yards out.
His effort was only partially cleared though, and Jones showed his predatory instincts to slot past Luke Garrard into the bottom corner.
However, Ashford’s lead didn’t last long.
Just five minutes later K’s midfielder Lee Rundell found space to strike a bouncing ball 20 yards out from goal, and in spite of Humphrey throwing himself in the firing line, the ball deflected off of the ex-Dover man left keeper Riley with no chance.
Kingstonian were buoyed from this, and put Ashford under pressure throughout the second half.
Tricky winger Dean Lodge created a chance for Bobby Trayor on the hour, but he shot wide, and then strike partner Goddard again shot wide of the target when Ashford were caught short at the back.
Nevertheless the turning point occurred on 70 minutes, where what looked like a legitimate goal was ruled out by linesman Matt Eva.
Neil Lampton’s cross from the right was turned into his own net by Nick Humphrey, but Eva was on hand with his offside flag to keep the scores level.
Recognising that it could be their day, Ashford took full advantage when Mark Lovell came up with an opportunist’s strike 10 minutes before time to give his Dad an early Christmas present, in three precious points.
Kingstonian: Luke Garrard, Jon Coke, Simon Subiny, Simon Huckle, Wayne Kinnie, Jason Turley, Neil Lampton, Nick Rundell, Bobby Traynor, Stephen Garrard, Dean Lodge
Subs: Wes Goggin, Craig Dunne, Danni Summers, Saheed Sankoh, Luke Naughton
Ashford Town: Jamie Riley, Nick Humphrey, Dan Brathwaite, Lee Hockey, Nick Barnes, Ryan Briggs, Mitchell Sherwood, Walid Matata, Mark Lovell, Paul Jones, Jimmy Bottle
Subs: Rob Denness, Aron Freeman, Lee Spiller, Tony Browne, Sam Moore
Chatham Town 0-0 Corinthian-Casuals
By John Crow
For the second time this season, these two teams played out a goalless draw - and for those who had opted to miss out on the chance of last-minute Christmas shopping, there was sadly little to get excited about.
Despite having had the better of the play during the first half, Chatham Town were perhaps lucky not to go in at least a goal down - their saviour being outstanding goalkeeper John Whitehouse, who pulled off a couple of stunning saves to deny Carlton Murrey-Price in the 27th and 42nd minutes.
Chatham's only clearcut chances having fallen to Rob Goodger, from a corner kick by Darren Smith, and a long-range effort by Matt Solly midway through a dour Half.
After the interval, it was the visitors who slowly increased their share of the possession - only to be constantly denied by a combination of atrocious finishing, and that man Whitehouse.
At the other end, meanwhile, the second half introduction of Shane Suter increased the options for the home side - and Goodger and Pat Bishenden had a number of chances to find the back of the net for the Chats.
Indeed, Bishenden is probably still kicking himself after missing out on a great chance of claiming all three points for his side in the final minute of the game.
Skipper Smith creating the opening which Bishenden unfortunately found himself unable to convert, with only defender Matt Smith between him and the goal.
Chatham Town: Whitehouse, Binks, Davey, Goodger, D Larkin, Best, Smith, Brooks, Bishenden, Solly, Finn (Suter 45).
Subs: Tedder, King, Oravec
Hastings United Football Club Statement – issued 27th December 2007
www.hastingsunitedfc.co.uk
It has been confirmed this evening that Hastings United Football Club has parted company with First Team manager Nigel Kane, following a poor sequence of results dating back to the end of October that has seen last season's Ryman League Division One South play-off winners sink into the heart of this year's Premier Division relegation battle, despite a promising start to their campaign.
Chairman Dave Walters came to the reluctant conclusion that a change in direction was required, after a 1-0 defeat at Folkestone Invicta on Boxing Day, United's ninth defeat in eleven matches, one which saw the Club slide into the bottom four ahead of Saturday's vital home clash with fellow strugglers Tonbridge Angels.
Nigel first joined United as a player at the start of the 2005/06 season, when Neville Southall was manager at the Pilot Field, but within six months, he had been invited to take the helm after the ex-Welsh International goalkeeper left the Club, along with the majority of his backroom team.
Initially in joint control of team affairs with Pat Brown, Nigel took sole charge in February 2006 when Pat stood down, and led United to a comfortable mid-table finish. His first full season in the role started poorly, but having appointed his brother Norman as his assistant manager, Nigel oversaw a remarkable turnaround in the Club's fortunes, transforming the side from relegation candidates to title contenders in just a couple of months on the back of a nine match unbeaten run, while a further sixteen games then elapsed before United suffered their next loss. Back-to-back defeats after Easter eventually saw the Club finish fourth in the table, but against the odds, Nigel led United to successive 2-0 wins away to Dover Athletic and Tooting & Mitcham United in the play-offs, earning them a memorable promotion in the process.
After a rather inauspicious start to the 2007/08 season, United's impressive home form left them well placed in the top six after a 3-0 win over Carshalton Athletic in mid-October, but the unexpected and controversial decision to release skipper Sean Ray coincided with the start of a slump in form that has brought only one victory since, 1-0 at home to Heybridge Swifts on 8 December. United also remain without an away league win this season, with the defeat at the Buzzlines Stadium signalling the end of Nigel's two year tenure.
Dave was quick to pay tribute to Nigel for the magnificent part he played in United's upturn in fortunes last season and for the manner in which he conducted himself throughout his time with the Club, especially when unequivocally stepping into the job at short notice in the wake of Neville's disruptive departure. However, the time had clearly come for some decisive action to be taken in an effort to safeguard United's Premier Division future.
Dave commented: "I am very grateful to Nigel, who helped me and the Club out in a very difficult situation following Neville Southall’s departure, along with Pat Brown at the time. I could not have hoped that he would go on to do so well, and lead us to promotion last season. However, we both agreed that he had probably taken the Club as far as he could, and that, for both parties, a change would be in our best interests. I fully expect to see Nigel go on and achieve further success in management, and he goes with the thanks and best wishes of all the directors and, I would hope, most, if not all, of the supporters."
United's current Reserve Team management duo of John Lambert and Wayne Farrier have been asked to oversee First Team matters this weekend, while former Hastings striker and one time Sidley United manager Keith Miles has kindly agreed to look after the Reserves for their visit to Crowborough Athletic. No decisions on Nigel's potential successor, or on the likely selection process, should be expected until the New Year.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd