Hastings United 0-4 Maidstone United - Hat-trick hero Pinnock repays the faith

The 29-year-old, a summer signing from rivals Margate, got his goalscoring account off the mark as the Stones brought Hastings United back down to earth with a thump.

Maidstone United tasted their first defeat of the season on Saturday, losing 2-1 at home to Harlow Town, while Hastings came away from Princes Park with a 2-0 win over Dartford.

But the Arrows failed to replicate the performance that they showed in north Kent as Pinnock and Roland Edge scored the goals to ensure the Stones climbed up four places in eighth in the Ryman Premier League season.

But Pinnock, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, admitted he wasn’t pleased with his own personal performance against Heybridge Swifts (2-0), Canvey Island (0-0) and against the Hawks at Bourne Park a couple of days ago.

“It’s enjoyable because the first couple of games, three games, have been frustrating for me, I know I haven’t played well,” he said of his hat-trick.

“All strikers are always counted on goals and all that so to get three today was very pleasing.”

Maidstone United made just one change that lost to Harlow with striker Meshach Nugent, who arrived from Ryman One South side Dulwich Hamlet on the eve of the new season, impressing after relegating Lloyd Blackman to the bench.

Wingers Elliot Bradbrook and Nathan Paul were excellent throughout.

Pinnock’s former Margate team-mate, central midfielder Jay Saunders, had a couple of early chances for the Kent side.

Hastings United’s first attempt quickly followed when their central midfielder Sam Adams looked up to see goalkeeper Andy Walker off his line, but his right-footed lob, from inside the centre circle, crashed onto The Cole Warren Stand roof.

Another half-chance fell the hosts way, Marc Whiteman squaring the ball to left-sided midfielder Frankie Sawyer, whose right-footed shot from twenty-yards, flew over.

But Pinnock opened his goalscoring account for his new side with thirteen minutes on the clock.

Kevin Watson was given time and space to deliver a diagonal pass for Bradbrook, whose looping header was hooked into the net by Pinnock, on the far post, just two-yards out.

Stones’ next chance arrived after 23 minutes when Saunders played in Nugent, but the former Greenwich Borough striker drilled his angled right-footed shot behind from an acute angle.

But Hastings United finally called visiting goalkeeper Andy Walker into action ten minutes later.

Sawyer was given time and space to cross and the ball found its way to striker Marc Whiteman, whose deflected shot was soberly turned around the post by the diving goalkeeper.

Whiteman went close again, just two minutes later, when his left-footed drive flashed just past the foot of the post.

At the other end, Saunders leapt to glance Bradbrook’s corner past the far post, but Whiteman was desperately unlucky not to equalise with six first-half minutes left.

Whiteman spun past three Maidstone defenders on the half-way line and raced towards the penalty area, before unleashing a right-footed drive from eighteen-yards, which flew past the diving Walker, but the ball crashed down off the top of the right-hand post.

But Maidstone United almost grabbed the second, against the run of play at the time, on the stroke of half-time.

Watson’s diagonal pass found Bradbrook, who beat the last defender, and rolled his shot past the advancing goalkeeper, but a sliding goal-line clearance from Hastings’ central defender Nathan Russell, denied him a deserved goal.

Maidstone United, however, stepped up a few gears during the second half and had numerous chances to add to Pinnock’s first-half opener.

Saunders turned inside the Hastings penalty area and his right-footed shot was turned around the post by Nessling.

Nessling didn’t know whether to stick or twist as Nugent cracked a cross from the right by-line but the goalkeeper prevented Bradbrook from scoring with a downward header from eight-yards out at the far post.

Bradbrook had a couple more chances before Adams tried to catch Walker out again, but this time, his shot from distance bounced harmlessly wide.

But three goals in the last twelve minutes ensured the final scoreline reflected the Stones’ dominance.

Bradbrook’s 78^th minute far-post corner was stabbed towards goal by Paul and Pinnock turned the ball past Nessling from four-yards.

Former Bromley goalkeeper Walker turned around Sawyer’s drilled shot around his near post, as Sawyer switched to a striker, as Hastings went close to pulling a vital goal back.

Pinnock’s hat-trick arrived soon after, finding space inside Hastings’ penalty area, and after receiving a low pass from Paul, who made headway down the right flank, stroked a low left-footed curler into the bottom far corner.

Saunders' 88^th minute shot was parried by Nessling but Bradbrook was on hand to stab the ball into the net to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Hastings’ substitute Sam Crabb came close with a shot, which curled just past the top far corner, but it was too little too late for the east Sussex side, leaving Maidstone United’s joint-manager Alan Walker with a massive smile on his face.

Hastings lost eight times on home soil last season, which included a 4-0 win over the Stones.

“To be fair, their a much changed Hastings United side as this is very much a much changed Maidstone United side,” Walker told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We came here, this stage of the season last year and got hammered 4-0 and we owed them that one.

“I thought we could have been two or three nil up in the first ten minutes or so, but at the same time we allowed them some very good chances through our own mistakes in the first half but once we got the second one there was only going to be one winner.

“To be fair, 4-0 has not flattered us because we created so many chances. Four-nil is a fair reflection on the game but saying that they could have scored a couple.”

Walker is pleased that Pinnock has rekindled his goalscoring touch.

He said: “He’s been getting some absolute stick off the boys, saying he’s the man that we’ve brought in to put the ball in the net.

“We talked about that after Saturday. If we get quality service into the front boys that we’ve got - we’ve got five very good front players - if we get quality service into the box, they’ll do the job and they’ve done it today.

“But that’s what Pinno does best. You give him a chance around the penalty area, he’ll score it.”

Nugent, Bradbrook and Paul also received praise.

“We’re delighted with Meshach Nugent’s debut,” Walker said. “I thought he showed all the qualities that I signed him for. He’s got power, pace, strength and I think he’s won a place in Maidstone United’s fans’ affections already.

“But the two wide lads, Elliot (Bradbrook) and Nathan (Paul) have been absolutely magnificent for us,” added Walker.

“No-one’s had a poor game. On day’s like this, it’s a pleasure to be a football manager.”

Former Bromley goalkeeper Andy Walker has now kept three clean sheets in the Stones’ opening four games of the season.

“I firmly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, we’ve got the best keeper, certainly in this league and probably the one above as well,” said the manager.

“As soon as we knew he was available, he’s what we set our sights on. People like him don’t come cheap but I think he’s proved already he’s a massive acquisition for us.”

Boss Walker admitted he knew his new-look side were more than capable of what they dished out today.

"We spoke (to the players) on Saturday and asked them not to be too despondent because if we carried on playing like we did someone, somewhere is going to get a massive hiding - Hastings were on the end of one today.”

Full marks must go to Sidcup based referee Mr Tony Mason, who let the game flow throughout and kept his cards inside his pocket.

Hastings United: Greg Nessling, Danny Spice, Ben Radley (Ben White 72), Rhys Whyborne, Nathan Russell, Jack Franklin, Frankie Sawyer (Sam Crabb 85), Sam Adams, Scott Ramsey, Marc Whiteman (Scott Marshall 61), Antonio Gonella.
Subs: Milton Miltadou, Chris May.

Maidstone United: Andy Walker, Nathan Paul, Roland Edge, Ben Lewis, Ian Cox, Kevin Watson, Ian Selley (John Wilfort 65), Jay Saunders, James Pinnock (Andy Martin 88), Meshach Nugent (Lloyd Blackman 76), Elliot Bradbrook.
Subs: Aaron Lacy, Steve Northwood.

Goals: James Pinnock 13, 78, 85, Eliot Bradbrook 88

Attendance: 759
Referee: Mr Tony Mason (Sidcup, Kent)
Assistants: Mr Colin Mallows (Burgess Hill, West Sussex) & Mr Ryan Ellis (Burgess Hill, West Sussex)