Two goals in the
final five minutes of extra time saw a
determined Hassocks progress to the second
round of the FA Vase at the expense of
Sevenoaks Town. Trailing 1-0 at half time
having been mostly outplayed, the Robins came
out for the second half a completely different
team and Neil Kane's goal deservedly took the
game into extra time. With a midweek replay
looking likely, full back Dan Jacques forced
the ball over the line and substitute James
Laing put a gloss on the score to see Hassocks
into round two.
In a quiet
opening 30 minutes the visitors fashioned the
only chance, keeper Joel Harding tipping Chris
Walker's shot around the post with a good
save. It was the Kent side who took the lead
five minutes later when the lively Joe
Creassey nipped in ahead of Stuart Faith, his
touch taking him past Ashley Marsh and his low
finish beating Harding.
Sevenoaks'
passing game was proving effective with
Creasey causing the Hassocks backline
problems, and it was the striker who came
closest again, nicking the ball off Faith in a
dangerous area before firing over on 45
minutes.
The hosts came
out a rejuvenated side, Daley Clark's snapshot
just wide of goal a minute in an early
statement of intent. On the hour mark,
Hassocks fired another warning shot across the
bow when Michael Bates was hauled down 30
yards from goal and Anthony Hibbert struck the
bar with a curling effort. The resulting goal
kick landed weakly at the feet of Hibbert and
the influential midfielder lofted an inch
perfect ball over the top to meet the run of
Kane who volleyed first time past stopper Sean
Funnell for 1-1
Both sides had
half chances but Hassocks looked the most
likely to snatch it, and right at the end of
90 minutes Kane had two great chances. Faith
broke from the back and he found Laing, he
realeased Kane, who cut inside the defender
but saw his shot deflected, and with the last
kick of normal time the striker saw his shot
saved by the legs of Funnell.
Neither side
really threatened in extra time and a midweek
trip to Kent beckoned until, with five minutes
remaining, Kane's shot was parried out to the
back post by Funnell, and right back Jacques
showed great determination to get there ahead
of his defender and slide the ball in for his
first goal for the club. With Sevenoaks forced
to pile forward, a ball over the top exposed
them again and Kane slid the ball across goal
for Laing to apply the finish.
Hassocks:
Harding, Jacques, Kublickas, Marsh, Bowra,
Faith; Gacias, Bates, Hibbert; Clark, Kane.
Subs: Laing
(Clark 80)
Starman: Dan
Jacques
