Sussex County
League Division 1
Saturday
7th November 2009
ROBINS
TOPPLE LEAGUE LEADERS
Shoreham
0-1 Hassocks
Hassocks
produced a magnificent rearguard action to end
the 13 match unbeaten run of County League
leaders Shoreham with a hard fought 1-0 win
at Middle Road. James Laing's header on 34
minutes from a Terry Gacias free kick was enough
to earn the Robins a superb 3 points and
complete a league double over Shoreham. However,
the backbone to their success was the
display by the defence, with Ashley Marsh,
Ian Simpson and Stuart Faith in particular
producing immense performances. Although at
times they rode their luck and had their hosts
and a post to thank, Hassocks deserved their
luck against a physically imposing side, whom
they had lost to 4 times last season.
Chances
in the first half were limited, Neil Kane
picking up an early booking for a late challenge
on Nick Fogden, whilst Laing was denied by the
fingertips of Lee Allfrey after a fine lay back
from Daley Clark and from the resulting corner
Simpson blasted over from 6 yards. At the other
end Joel Harding rushed out to deny Lee Eastman
with his body, with Dean Smith firing the
rebound wide and Harding tipped round a long
range Richard Hudson effort.
Hassocks
then took the lead when Laing rose superbly to
nod home Gacias' pinpoint free kick and the half
ended with a melee, after Lee Denyer appeared to
catch Kane in the face with a flailing arm.
Marsh and Ryan Bradley were involved in an
altercation as referee Darren Eaton tried to
sort out the problem, with the Hassocks skipper
somewhat fortunate to escape a yellow card
himself when he kicked out at Bradley, who had
trod on Marsh's foot. Denyer was also booked for
the challenge as tempers flared.
Kane
went down in the box early in the 2nd half but
Eaton waved away claims for a penalty and from
that point Hassocks were under the cosh. Bradley
robbed Dan Jacques but his square ball was
cleared by Faith, Eastman's shot from the edge
of the box was parried away by Harding, with
Simpson and Faith both getting in blocks in the
scramble that followed. In a rare venture
forward Gacias' half volley went wide and
Anthony Hibbert, who was playing in a rare
holding role also shot wide. Marsh was booked
for a tackle and was then on the end of a bad
challenge from Liam O'Brien, which left the
Robins skipper nursing a sore shoulder.
On
80 minutes, Jamie Groves' free kick came back
off a post, with Laing twice clearing off the
line in the follow up and Faith then also
cleared off the line from O'Brien. Hassocks
flung themselves at everything Shoreham threw at
them and when the final whistle went rightly
received applause from the travelling Hassocks
fans, who had endured 2 below par performances
against Seaford and Selsey.
Hassocks:
Harding, Jacques, Marsh, Simpson, Faith,
Kublickas; Gacias, Clark, Hibbert; Laing, Kane
Subs:
Newington, Bowra, Dawes (unused)
Starman:
The whole team were magnificent, but
Stuart Faith produced an immense performance at
the heart of the Robins defence
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