Barton Rovers win battle for Hastings as Boreham Wood striker signs on loan

Barton Rovers have signed Rob Hastings on a short-term loan from Conference South side Boreham Wood.
Dan Kennoy. wk 32.Dan Kennoy. wk 32.
Dan Kennoy. wk 32.

Kennoy was thankful to former manager, Boreham Wood’s Ian Allinson, for helping to complete the deal.

“I’ve known Ian a long time and we have always had a great relationship,” said Kennoy.

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“I think after our FA Cup tie earlier in the season he saw with his own eyes what we are building at Barton.

“A manager has to be comfortable with where he sends his players out on loan and it shows how far we have come for a club like Boreham Wood to trust us with their contracted players.

“Rob is strengthening us in an area of the pitch which we needed to improve in, and Ian has great belief that he will score goals for us, which is exactly what we need if we are to continue our form this season.

“I’m looking forward to working with Rob over the four weeks and I’m sure we will send him back to Boreham Wood a better player for his experience with us.”

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The signing comes at a great time for Rovers with some tough fixtures against Daventry, Kettering, Slough and Dunstable Town all in the next four weeks and Kennoy is hoping that Hastings will give those clubs a run for their money to secure a play-off place at the end of April.

The 19-year-old earned himself a contract at Wood after excelling in their highly-regarded PASE scheme.

In the 2011-12 season Hastings was an instrumental figure in Wood’s U18 treble-winning side and received both the U18 and Reserve Team Players’ Player Of The Year awards.

This season Hastings has been limited to substitute appearances for Wood, but managed to open his goals account against Chelmsford City in a Conference South fixture.

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He has grabbed two starts for Wood this season against Eastleigh and Heybridge Swifts in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.

The youngster enjoyed the glamour of the FA Cup first round proper as well, with Wood eventually being knocked out by Carlisle in a replay.

More recently, the striker spent a short loan at Ryman Premier League outfit Harrow Borough.

Saturday’s home with North Greenford United was postponed and Rovers were due to go to Daventry Town on Tuesday and visit St Ives Town on Saturday, while the following Tuesday’s game against league giants Kettering Town has been postponed as the Poppies are in action in the Red Insure Cup.

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