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FA Carlsberg Vase 1st Qualifying
Round
Saturday
06th
September
2008
ROBINS COMEBACK
STUNS BRIDGES IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER
Hassocks 4-3
Three Bridges (AET)
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 117th 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
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