Match Preview

BIG MATCH PREVIEW

HASTINGS UNITED v CRAY VALLEY (PM)
19 SEPT 2020
PITCHING IN ISTHMIAN LEAGUE – SOUTH EAST DIVISION

By Richard J Green

In a reversal of last season's opening day fixture The Millers visit the East Sussex coast. Two Clubs looking to be competing in the higher reaches of the league table, both saw success last weekend in the Emirates FA Cup – Cray Valley comprehensively dispatching local rivals VCD Athletic, while “The U’s” needed an 83rd minute winner from Jack Dixon against 10 man Herne Bay to progress.
The Millers will hope to have a new addition to the squad making his debut – Kieron McCann having joined the Club from Folkestone Invicta this week.
The recent signing of former Carshalton Athletic striker Raheem Sterling-Parker to supplement last season’s 40 goal duo of Ben Pope and Davide Rodari, has given Chris Agutter’s Hastings strike force a creative boost as they look to complete a job brought to a halt by the March closure of the 2019/20 season.
With former Eastbourne Town men Aaron Capon and Marcus Goldsmith joining recent acquisition from VCD Athletic, Jack Steventon in the ranks, the title favourites will provide a stern test of Kevin Watson’s Millers own ambitions as 2020/21 hits the rails.
With current restrictions limiting the attendance at The TGS Pilot Field to 400, the match has been given “all ticket” status with a sell-out crowd present

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
29 Aug 2015 FA Cup Prelim Round Cray Valley (PM) 0 Hastings United 3
21 Aug 2016 FA Cup Prelim Round Cray Valley (PM) 0 Hastings United 2
17 Aug 2019 Isthmian League SE Cray Valley (PM) 0 Hastings United 0

HASTINGS ONE TO WATCH: Jack Dixon – Man of the Match, and on target for The U’s in the Emirates FA Cup last week