John O'Hara League Challenge Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 03rd November 2007
SHERIFF GETS ROBINS OUT OF JAIL
Selsey 0-2 Hassocks

HASSOCKS did not exactly get out of jail but given pre-match problems they were grateful to book a home tie with Ringmer in the last eight of the John O’Hara League Cup with Saturday’s win at Selsey. With free-scoring midfielder Anthony Hibbert already ruled out by a bruised foot, manager Dave John admitted he could well have done without a phone call informing him young Spencer Slaughter was unavailable after spending the night in a Brighton police cell.

It meant Chris Brown having to make an earlier than expected return to first team duty after being injured on the opening day of the season. And though Brown did well, he was clearly tiring in the second half before being given a well-earned rest. Despite struggling in the league, Selsey have picked up a little of late and are generally a tougher proposition at home - except, it seems, for Hassocks who have won seven of their last eight league trips to the High Street ground stretching back to 1981. But the prospects of notching another win did not seem particularly bright at the end of a goalless first half that provided grim viewing for spectators. The visitors were giving the ball away with alarming regularity and Selsey were barely much better after a bright start when the lively Tom Ridley put a shot into the sidenetting.

The start of the second half was no better but then Hassocks went on to repeat their 2-0 league win at the Beacon three weeks earlier and in a slightly surprising manner. Mark Sheriff struck his first goals of the season after having a torrid time, clearly out of sorts with himself and his colleagues, who it has to be stated were providing little or no service. But on 57 minutes the little striker showed all his old predatory instincts as he made an instinctive diagonal run away from goal to meet Mickey Turner’s corner with a superb angled header across keeper Ryan Chard. After that it was fairly plain sailing for the Robins although Joel Harding, who barely had a shot to make all afternoon, was grateful to see Ridley put another effort into the sidenetting when Selsey had chances from a corner. The visiting skipper was also quickly off his line to do just enough to force the experienced Darren Pearce to put Selsey’s best chance of the match wide on 67 minutes.

At the other end wing back Richard Thompson should have done better when he headed over after great work by Sam Fisk on the right. But any lingering hopes Selsey may have cherished were finally extinguished after 78 minutes when Hassocks scored a well-worked second goal. Boss John had limited options but had just brought on rangy reserve striker Laurence Robinson for Brown as Phil Gault went back into midfield. With his first touch Robinson did well to send Matt Robbins away to drive hard at the home defence before pulling the ball back cleverly to leave Sheriff with a simple sidefooted finish. It sealed a win that keeps Hassocks in with a realistic chance of lifting their first senior trophy in the club’s 105-year history. With the likes of Crowborough and Whitehawk already eliminated, could this be Robins’ year?

Subs: Robinson (Brown, 78), Simpson (Sheriff, 86), Williams (not used).

Middy Starman: Stuart Faith, outstanding in a back line that looked fairly solid throughout.