AFTER
drubbings at Three Bridges and Whitehawk, as
well as to a lesser extent the 2-1 midweek
defeat at home to Selsey, one could be
forgiven for thinking Robins did not have a
result like this in them. But as is often
the case, they rose to the occasion when the
odds seemed stacked against and in the end
were worthy winners against second-placed
Chi on Saturday. Apart from the absence
through injury of undoubtedly two of their
most combative players in Stuart Faith and
Spencer Slaughter, they were also without
strikers James Laing and Neil Kane. And then
in the pre-match warm-up they also lost
young forward Nathan Miles to leave them
without a recognised striker. At least there
was consolation in the reserve game being
called off for it allowed former St Francis
Rangers striker Sam Jeremiah to take his
place on the bench for the first time and he
got a run out late on.
Full
back Dan Jacques was pressed into service as
a forward alongside defender Kieran
O’Callaghan, better known for his beach
football exploits although having scored for
Robins when again filling an emergency front
running role in a 1-1 draw at Hailsham back
in April 2007.
If pre-match indications were not
encouraging, things looked even blacker when
Chi scored from their first attack barely
three minutes in. It was a soft goal as Ben
Vassallo burst through the middle and saw
his shot half saved by Joel Harding before
the ball crept over the line. But already
the hosts had shown they were along for more
than the ride and they asked quite a few
questions of the Chi defence. However, it
has to be stated that the visitors looked
capable of scoring virtually every time they
entered Hassocks territory. Vassallo could
have added a second on 10 minutes when
Harding hesitated although the keeper saved
well with his feet when the visitors counter
attack after a promising Hassocks move broke
down on 17 minutes. Joe Briggs was the
player denied after getting the better of
Peter Lear, struggling with a pre-match
injury yet not only lasting the match but
also generally doing an excellent job for
the hosts. As for Harding, he is not the
keeper he was before going off on his world
travels but it is more than likely he will
be back to his best next season. It is bound
to be judgement making that suffers after a
season off, particularly for a goalkeeper.
Hassocks
boss Dave John can claim an assist for the
equaliser on 29 minutes. He urged right back
Arni Kublickas forward and a short corner
routine with Anthony Hibbert, playing his
300th game for Hassocks, resulted in a good
cross that was flicked on to find Phil Gault
outside the far post. Gault dummied to
shoot, cut inside and scored with a shot
from a tight angle. It was no more than
Robins deserved and certainly Gault was
worthy of goal in what was simply a quite
brilliant personal performance. Hibbert did
not quite put enough on his attempted chip
after 40 minutes but the move highlighted
how well the home side were in the game. And
after the break they proved themselves the
better team on the day, with everyone
playing their part with an equal measure of
guts, determination and skill. Just two
minutes after the break Jacques put a
wonderful heading chance over the bar after
superb work on the right by Hibbert and
although Callum Cutler squandered a great
opportunity for Chi six minutes later, it
was Hassocks who made most of the running
from there.
They
had two excellent chances from the same
break on 63 minutes. Jacques was denied by
the legs of keeper Greg Forster and then
Daley Clark scuffed the follow-up effort
just wide.
And a minute later home players and fans
alike were incensed when Eastbourne referee
Kevin Roberts failed to play advantage when
Jacques put Kublickas completely in the
clear. It has to be stated that the referee
made some absolute howlers and while it is
easy to be critical of a difficult job, one
wonders if fast tracking officials is to the
overall benefit of the game, hoever
necessary it may be. Again it was 29 minutes
into a half that Hassocks scored to seal a
richly deserved success and there was joy
all round in that Clark finally opened his
goalscoring account at the 25th time of
asking (19 starts and six as sub).
Harding’s long kick upfield cleared
defender Tom Broadbent to leave Clark
one-on-one and although his decision to cut
inside seemed questionable, he finally
produced the right finish. After that the
referee took centre stage, booking Broadbent
for a foul and then causing consternation by
issuing a second yellow and a red to Lee
Mullins, who was booked earlier to deny
Kublickas his chance. Clearly it was sub
James Archer who had led with his elbow but
it seems more likely that Mullins was booked
again for his involvement in the mini fracas
that followed. That was borne out by Gault
also picking up a yellow card before the
referee then consulted with an assistant and
also booked Archer. But in the end nothing
could detract from a thoroughly good win for
Hassocks that must have come as a pleasant
surprise to their loyal fans.
Hassocks:
Harding; Kublickas, Marsh, Bowra, Lear,
Thompson; Hibbert, Gault, Clark;
O’Callaghan, Jacques.
Subs:
Jeremiah (Jacques, 85), Bates, Woods,
Dawson, J Simpson (not used).
Middy
Starman: The whole team deserve credit but
it could go to none other than Phil Gault,
who was inpirational.
