South Park 1 Hastings United 1

Match 87/17/1537 - Tuesday, 30th January 2018 - Bostik South

South Park (0) 1 Jackson 59
Hastings United (1) 1 Davies 40
Attendance: 92
New Ground: 324

Entrance: £5
Programme: £2
Mileage: 90/6,157

A second trip this week into the Surrey’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this time to King George’s Field, the home of South Park. Sadly, I can’t say that it fits within the title, perhaps it needs to be seen in daytime sunshine.

However, it fits very nicely into the functional category with a very nice changing room complex that also houses the tea bar. It is a shame for those that enjoy a half-time pint that the clubhouse is situated outside of the stadium. Two Atcost stands provide seating and cover behind a goal and the brick built complex’s roof has an overhang that provides some shelter from the rain.

I wouldn’t go as far to say that the opening 20 minutes were thrilling but they were absorbing enough to distract from the rain that was getting harder eventually forcing a retreat to the larger of the Atcosts.

Hastings’ goalkeeper, Charlie Horlock, was as vocal as any I’ve heard in a while and it was not always encouraging, giving a rocket to a fellow defender after being forced to touch over an effort from Jerry O’Sullivan.

After the initial 20 minute period it was the visitors that took up the attacking mantle for the rest of the half with their centre forward, Calum Davies, proving a handful.

South Park’s goalkeeper, Callum Thomas, did well to save at Davies’ feet and the forward was inches away from converting a cross from the right. But when Park’s Josh Gallagher lost possession in midfield, Davies was sent away to bury his opportunity into the bottom corner.

The opening minutes of the second half saw the Sussex side remaining in the ascendancy with Davies perhaps needing to be a bit more selfish when offered a chance from the right and Thomas made a terrific stop to claw Davide Rodari’s effort out of the top corner.

However, the hosts got back on terms just shy of the hour when Dan Moody set up Joe Jackson to score from just inside the box.

Chris Smith, who interested Tonbridge a while back, was surprisingly on the bench given his 15 goals this season was summoned for the last 20 minutes and he immediately gave the South Park attack some movement and momentum.

The final 15 minutes saw South Park finishing much the stronger and Horlock was needed on four separate occasions to preserve the hard-earned point.