FA Challenge Vase First Round
Saturday 6th October 2007
10-MAN ROBINS BATTLE TO VASE VICTORY
Hassocks 2-0 Ash United

Hassocks progressed to the 2^nd round of the FA Vase and a trip to either Marlow United or Lymington Town, after a gutsy 2-0 win over high flying Ash United of the Combined Counties League. They did so after playing the last 35 minutes with 10 men, following the dismissal of Stuart Faith for two bookings. The first for a foul was harsh, the second for kicking the ball away was nothing short of a joke. Referee Mr Walsh from Waterlooville seemed out of his depth all afternoon, hardly giving the Robins a decision and earning the wrath of the Hassocks faithful on many occasions.

However, Hassocks dug in deep against good opponents, weathered a bit of a storm and ground out a superb win in the end. For the first 20 minutes of the game, Ash passed the ball around confidently, looked assured on the ball and the lively front pairing of Brad Smith and Gavin Evans gave the Robins back line plenty to think about. But in this period they failed to gain the lead that their play deserved and Hassocks gradually played their way back into the game. Clear chances were at a premium, Faith’s looping header went over the bar and Joel Harding easily smothered a Davis header. Phil Gault missed the best chance on 25 minutes, shooting straight at Chris Andrews, after being put clear by Matt Robbins. The ever reliable Peter Lear cleared a goalbound header from Chris Atkins away for a corner, whilst Gault’s shot from an Anthony Hibbert corner was blocked.

Hibbert gave Hassocks the lead on 48 minutes, his exquisite 25-yard curler from a Gault lay off nestled in the right hand corner of the net, catching Andrews off his line. On 57 minutes it should have been 2-0, Lear blazing over from 10 yards with the keeper on the ground and an open goal in front of him, following a Gault challenge. Faith was dismissed on the hour, kicking the ball away, a spilt second after Mr Marsh awarded a free kick against him. A small slice of common sense would have sufficed, the Hassocks defender was not attempting to waste time or trying to hold up play in an effort to get back. Hassocks re-organised immediately, Brendan Leahy replaced Richard Thompson, with Sam Fisk taking over at left back from his central midfield role. The Robins doubled the lead on 67, Gault holding off his man, turning and striking home from 8 yards. It was the breathing space that Hassocks needed and despite having plenty of possession, Ash did not really hurt the home defence and Harding was relatively quiet in goal, although he did have to react with a fine parry from Smith’s volley. The players left the field to a fine reception from the home crowd, pleased with the second half display and the battling qualities shown.

Team: Harding, Turner, Thompson, Marsh, Lear, Faith, Robbins, Slaughter, Hibbert, Gault, Fisk

Subs: Leahy (Thompson 63), Thomas (Gault 87), Jacques, Robinson, Wickwar (unused)

Starman: Difficult to pick one player, so sitting on the fence, award goes to whole team for a battling display