HASSOCKS
have fared well against Selsey in recent
seasons but their luck seems to be deserting
this time around as they were again beaten at
home by the seasiders. A
4-2 home exit from the RUR Cup at the end of
October was followed by Tuesday’s 2-1 league
reverse, in which the visitors had Alun Morey
sent off 10 minutes from time and could have
had another player red carded early on.
Spencer
Slaughter made a flying start for Robins
before a late challenge ended his part in
proceedings just 15 minutes in. Burgess Hill
referee Colin Mallows deemed a yellow card
sufficient punishment for Joe Miles. Mr
Mallows went on to show quite a few cards as
Selsey adopted their not unusual griping mode.
After
only a couple of minutes Slaughter went close
with a volley after combining with Nathan
Miles and the same pair created another chance
on eight minutes that Slaughter put just over.
A
goal from a somewhat unlikely source put
Hassocks in front on 23 minutes. Anthony
Hibbert swung over a free kick from wide right
and defender Sol Bowra scored with a diving
header. Seven
minutes later the visitors had two big shouts
for handball turned down in a minute as the
finger was pointed at home skipper Ashley
Marsh and Peter Lear. Daley
Clark missed a good chance to open his account
when he put his shot straight at the keeper
and then soon after, on 40 minutes, home
keeper Joel Harding used his legs to foil Rob
Wimble from a one-on-one.
Had
Hassocks held on until half time, the final
outcome may have been different but on 44
minutes Selsey scored a slightly fortunate
goal when Lewis Hamilton’s shot from the
edge of the box came off the knee of Marsh and
looped over the stranded Harding. The
winner came just two minutes after the break
when from Scott Dormer’s cross, Richie Brown
had an effort cleared off the line by Lear but
only as far as Wimble, who scored from eight
yards.
Five
minutes later James Laing curled a shot just
over the Selsey bar but Hassocks were grateful
to Harding for a triple save from Wimble on 62
minutes. Selsey
keeper Rob McLelland then earned his keep by
denying Miles after he was played in by Laing
and then thwarting Phil Gault from the
follow-up effort. On
80 minutes Morey was straight red carded for a
foul on Marsh but the 10 men held out for
victory.
Hassocks:
Harding; Jacques, Marsh, Lear, Bowra,
Kublickas; Clark, Slaughter, Hibbert; Gault,
Miles.
Subs:
Laing (Slaughter, 20), Kane (Jacques 84)
Middy
Starman: It goes to Nathan
Miles for his honest endeavour and ability to
ask questions of the Selsey defence.
