FA Carlsberg Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Saturday 06^th September 2008
ROBINS FIGHTBACK STUNS BRIDGES IN 7 GOAL THRILLER
Hassocks 4-3 Three Bridges (After Extra Time)

Hassocks and Three Bridges served up a sensational 7-goal thriller at the Beacon in an incident packed FA Vase encounter, which also featured 3 sending offs, including Bridges manager Paul Faili, 6 bookings and conditions more akin to November, which more than added to the drama . The Robins fought back from 2-0 down to force extra time at 3-3 and had debutant Matt Russell to thank, as he netted a 117^th minute winner, to spare Hassocks a replay at the Jubilee Field and finish the job against the 9-man visitors.

 

There was very little indication of the drama to come, as Bridges dominated the first half and bathe early part of the second period as Hassocks struggled against a side smarting from a 4-1 defeat at Redhill in midweek. The Robins gave a debut to former Bognor and Burgess Hill striker Matt Russell and although not fully match fit, he proved the match winner for Hassocks with a poachers double. With both John Suter and Mickey Jewell away on holiday, Director of Football, Dave John was in charge.

 

Frequent heavy showers and blustery conditions made the surface slick and Bridges passed it around with aplomb in the first period, Sam McVicar stinging Jack Simpson's hands with a 30-yard effort early on. The young Hassocks keeper was making his first team debut and endured a mixed afternoon and probably wasnt helped after receiving a nasty forearm smash to the face from Nathan Davis on 20 minutes. The Bridges front man was given a yellow card by referee David Spain, when it could easily have been a red. Simpson then made an excellent save from Joel O'Hara's shot but he was caught out on 34 minutes when he failed to claim a corner and McVicar climbed highest to head powerfully home. Davis scuffed an effort wide and James Grant also fired over as Bridges finished the half strongly, despite O'Hara also finding his way into the referee's notebook.

 

Bridges doubled their lead as most supporters were still finishing their half time cuppa. Sam Thornback's excellent through ball caught Hassocks flat footed, Davis rounding Simpson before neatly tucking home. This stung Hassocks into action and they halved the lead on 54 minutes, Matt Amos volleying home from close range from Anthony Hibbert's corner as the Bridges defence stood still. Warren Whitely fired an effort wide, Simon Bristow was shown yellow for a poor challenge and on the hour Amos' cross was cleared by Ashley Dugdale just before James McKenzie could slot home. Amos headed over from 6 yards and at the other end Carl Dunk did the same. Dunk was then booked for a foul just before the Robins levelled on 74 minutes, Russell firing home from a Tom White centre. Home celebrations were short lived as immediately Davis gave Bridges the lead, after Simpson had lost the ball after a collision with the otherwise assured Glenn Woodburn.

 

Laurence Robinson and Michael Eynon were both introduced by Dave John and it was the former's cross on 88 minutes which caused confusion in the Bridges box, resulting in a clearance hitting Hibbert before nestling in the bottom corner of the net. Bridges were incensed, thinking Hibbert had handled the ball into the net, Dunk lead the protests and earned his second yellow of the afternoon to leave the visitors facing extra time with 10 men. Manager Paul Faili also vehemently disputed the decision, coming onto the pitch to remonstrate with referee Spain and he too was giving his marching orders from the dugout.

Further heavy rain greeted the start of extra time with Bridges creating the first chance, Woodburn superbly blocking Kevin Joyce's effort. Young Nick Pitcher was booked for a clumsy tackle and then Simpson saved brilliantly low to his left to thwart Whitely . Russell hooked over a Robinson cross before on 103 minutes Hassocks were awarded a penalty. A ball into the box was confidently punched away by Stuart Delvin but behind him, Amos was apparently bundled to the ground by Dugdale, who somewhat harshly was shown a straight red card by Spain. Hibbert took the spot kick but Delvin was equal to it saving well to his right.

 

Even against nine men Hassocks failed to take control of the game, struggling to keep the ball, Eynon showing his frustration with a foul and another yellow card. Time was running out for Hassocks and they nearly got caught on the break by Joyce but another superb tackle by Woodburn denied him.

 

Just as time was running out, Hassocks grabbed the winner. Bridges were caught short at the back and when Delvin came for Robinson's cross, Laing beat him to it with a neat flicked header and Russell had the simplest of tap ins at the far post to send the Robins through and gain a victory that seemed unlikely earlier in the afternoon.

 

Dave John said "I have seen better football but for value for money, it was top notch entertainment. We kept battling and I think our discipline probably won the game for us in the end"

 

Hassocks: Simpson, White, Thompson, Woodburn, Pitcher, McKenzie (Robinson 78), Slaughter (Laing 93), Bristow (Eynon 65), Hibbert, M Russell, Amos

Unused sub: Fitzgerald

 

Man of the match: Glenn Woodburn - immense at the back with some outstanding tackles