Hastings United boss gets glimpse of future – and likes what he sees
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He fielded an experimental and very young side against Corinthian-Casuals in Tuesday’s Velocity Trophy tie at The Pilot Field – and was delighted by the performance as United won 2-1.
In the starting line-up were Harvey Mapstone, Oscar Barry, Josh Turner, Kian Moyes, Finley Chapman, Freddie Legg and James Hull, while the bench included Armandas Briedis, Charlie Honey and Jamal Lubanga.
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Hide AdIt was two of the side’s more experienced players – Knory Scott and Chinedu McKenize – who got the goals, but Elphick was pleased with what he witnessed.
"It was fantastic – it was great to see what the future of the club looks like,” Elphick said. “It’s testament to the work of the coaching staff – people like Jon Meeney, Andrew Brown and Ben Cornelius do so much good work with these lads.”
Elphick said he’d have no hesitation in fielding a similar line-up in the next round of the Velocity – while some of the youngsters look like they could be pushing for league starts soon.
From the future to the present, and Elphick’s troops were unlucky to suffer a second straight 1-0 defeat on the road when hosts Enfield struck an 87th minute winner on Saturday.
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Hide AdElphick said: “We should at least have come away with a draw. We had the two best chances of the game but didn’t convert them. That’s happened against a couple of top-six teams and we need to put it right.
"It was gutting to lose to a late goal on a day when we’d lost Alex Brefo and Sam Hasler from the starting line-up.”
United are back in league action tomorrow at home to Haringey – who are two places above them in mid-table – at the start of a run of league games in which eight out of nine matches are at home.
Then on Tuesday Crawley Town visit in the Sussex Senior Cup’s second round.
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Hide AdElphick said: “Haringey certainly carry a threat – they put five past Kingstonian the other night – while we can’t wait to face Crawley.
"They’ve been going under interim boss Lewis Young but we will have a good go at them.”