A goal inside the opening minute
by Sol Bowra – his first senior goal – set Hassocks on the
way to Saturday's vital 3-1 home win over fellow strugglers
Oakwood and now leaves a 12-point gap between the clubs.
It was an efficient enough
performance by the Robins, against a visiting side who tried
to pass the ball around and had a couple of lively forwards in
Russell Mortimer and Gerald Manville. Bowra, Ian Simpson and
returning captain Ashley Marsh did well against them in a game
where despite four goals being scored, chances were at a
premium.
Hassocks were on the front foot
from the start, earning a corner inside the first 30 seconds.
Adam Williams' excellent delivery found the unmarked Bowra,
who headed downwards past Glen Fitzcoy. Oaks responded with a
dangerous Carlo Castrochino cross that no-one got on the end
of and Jack Simpson was relieved to see flash past the far
post. A Williams cross then found Anthony Hibbert, whose
scuffed shot was headed over the bar from a difficult angle by
Aaron Walsh. This was a second successive start for Walsh and
his work rate, particularly in the first half, was admirable.
All he needs now is a senior goal to boost confidence.
Oaks had the ball in the net on
28 minutes, Gary Bidwell heading home from close range, but
referee Wilks had spotted a foul on keeper Simpson from the
corner. Hassocks cashed in on that let-off by doubling their
lead on 38 minutes. Walsh played a good ball over the top and
when Laurence Robinson was upended by Fitzcoy, the referee
awarded a penalty that Hibbert confidently dispatched into the
top corner to send Hassocks into the break with a handy
advantage. Simpson saved a long range effort from Manville,
while Robinson missed a great chance on 50 minutes, hitting
the post from inside the six-yard box after an excellent cross
by Walsh.
But it was 3-0 on 52 minutes as
Walsh again put Robinson through and although once more
upended by Fitzcoy, theball fell invitingly for Williams to
slot it home from 12 yards. Nathan Miles replaced Walsh soon
after and the youngster showed some good touches in his 25
minutes on the pitch, including a fine run and lay back to Dan
Jacques, who fired wide from the edge of the box. Mortimer
headed wide from a Castrochino centre before Manville slotted
home unmarked at the far post after a cross from Tom Familton
for the Oaks consolation. After that the visitors pushed
forward and Ian Simpson did well to block a Castrochino effort
and also denied Manville with a good tackle. The game then
petered out but Robins will be delighted with the three
points.
Hassocks: J Simpson, Jacques,
Thompson, Marsh, Bowra, I Simpson, Williams (Dawson, 82),
Laing, Hibbert, Robinson, Walsh (Miles, 65).
Subs: Miles (Walsh 65), Dawson
(Williams 82), Pitcher, Gander (unused)
Starman: Ian Simpson just
gets the vote for an assured performance alongside the
excellent Marsh and Bowra.
