Hastings United prepare to conclude pre-season - here is how they have got on so far

On Saturday (September 5), Hastings United conclude their pre-season fixtures with a trip to play Essex-based Maldon & Tiptree.
Tom Chalmers in action during Hastings United's friendly with Glebe. Picture by Scott WhiteTom Chalmers in action during Hastings United's friendly with Glebe. Picture by Scott White
Tom Chalmers in action during Hastings United's friendly with Glebe. Picture by Scott White

Important information posted by Maldon & Tiptree: Capacity is limited to 200. Those wishing to attend the match are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.

This is the ‘U’s final game before our first competitive match of the season on 12thSeptember - an FA Cup tie at home to Herne Bay, a preview for which will be published closer to the time.

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Pre-season round-up: United have already crammed in nine friendly games as they bed in new players and hone their match fitness. Except for Folkestone Invicta all of these have been on the road. There is a summary of the results below.

The club has retained a strong core of last season’s team and all the ‘U’s early signings (Aaron Capon, Lloyd Dawes, Marcus Goldsmith and Jack Steventon) now have a significant number of minutes under their belts. In the case of Capon and Dawes they have also opened their scoring accounts. Academy players Benn Ward and Max Walsh have also seen plenty of action. Last, but not least, the recent re-signing of Sam Cruttwell has delighted all United fans, and Cruttshas already completed two ninety-minute games back in a Hastings shirt.

As you’ll see below, Maldon & Tiptree were having a decent time of it last season, and if things had turned out as anticipated these two teams would have been meeting in the Premier Division this coming season.

And on that note, I will (try hard and) not mention the fact the season was abandoned ever again!

United’s pre-season looks like this…

Westfield FC – won 8 - 0

Eastbourne United – won 2 - 1

Grays Athletic – won 3 - 0

Newhaven – lost 0 -1

Alresford Town – won 4 - 0

Eastbourne Town – drew 0 - 0

Folkestone Invicta – lost 0 - 1

Littlehampton – won 3 - 0

Glebe – drew 2 - 2

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Played: 9 Won: 5 Drawn: 2 Lost: 2 Goals for: 22 Goals against: 5

Maldon & Tiptree compete in the Isthmian League North division, which is the equivalent to United’s South East division.

Like United, the Jammers were on target for promotion last season, sitting pretty some fourteen points clear (even after they received a three point deduction for fielding an ineligible player), having lost just two league games all season and winning all twelve of their away games.

In addition to topping their league, M&T advancedtheir way through an impressive number of cup rounds. They won six FA Cup games, reaching (and winning in) Round 1 for the first time in their history, before a narrow 0-1 defeat to Newport County in Round 2. Their FA Trophy run ended when losing by the odd goal in seven against Enfield Town in the 3rd qualifying round (equalling their best run). And they reached the quarter-final stage of both the Essex Cup and Velocity Trophy.

The Jammers pre-season looks like this…

Barking – lost 0 - 2

East Thurrock – lost 0 - 1

Bowers & Pitsea – lost 3 - 5

Heybridge Swifts – won 6 -2

Brightlingsea Regent – lost 2 - 3

Played: 5 Won: 1 Lost: 4 Goals for: 11 Goals against: 13

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Match information Saturday 5th September, 3pm kick off at Maldon Stadium, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex CM9 5JQ. Admission is £5 for adults, £2 for concessions. You can follow live game updates via Twitter: @hastingsufc

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