A
last minute equaliser from Clinton More denied
Hassocks a valuable win in a thoroughly
entertaining encounter at the Beacon on
Tuesday evening. Having led from Stuart
Faith’s header early in the second half, the
Robins looked to have weathered a strong Wick
finish until More fired home after the ball
had kindly fell to him 12 yards out.
Both
sides played some fine football on another
excellent Beacon surface, with the home side
more than matching Wick’s renowned passing
game and had they taken some of the chances
early in the second period the game could have
been out of the visitors reach before the
dramatic conclusion.
Hassocks
started very brightly with Anthony Hibbert and
Phil Gault both going close early and the
latter steering another chance just wide from
Faith’s flicked header. George Gaskin fired
wide in a rare Wick attack in the first half
hour, whilst Sam Jeremiah, who was outstanding
in tormenting the Wick defence all evening
chipped an effort over the bar from Daley
Clark’s lay back and then curled another
shot just wide as Hassocks dominated. However
on 40 minutes Wick had the chance to take the
lead when Faith felled More in the box but
Jack Simpson, who had a superb match, guessed
right to deny the prolific Scott Murfin low
down to his left from the spot.
For
the first 20 minutes of the 2nd
period Hassocks had the chances to put the
game to bed with Jeremiah shooting wide before
Faith nodded in Hibbert’s free kick at the
far post in the 54th minute to give
the Robins a deserved lead. Richard Thompson
placed a gilt edged chance wide from 10 yards,
Jeremiah went on a tantalising run but shot
wide and then Hibbert hit the bar with a chip
from 25 yards. Jeremiah also fired just wide
from 35 yards after spotting Alex Bryant off
his line and then he screwed his left foot
effort just past the post after accelerating
past Simon Clayton. After these let off’s
Wick settled down and for the last 20 minutes
enjoyed long spells of possession, James West
shooting wide and then Simpson brilliantly
turned Clayton’s free kick round the post.
Simpson then made an excellent block to deny
More but could do nothing to prevent the Wick
equaliser as the game entered stoppage time.
Another
draw for the Robins and probably 2 points
dropped but the style of football played was
more than encouraging, especially as they more
than matched one of the most stylish
footballing sides in the County League.
Hassocks;
Simpson, Jacques, Thompson, Marsh,
O’Callaghan, Faith, Clark, Laing, Hibbert,
Gault, Jeremiah
Unused
subs; Bowra, Kane, Bates, Kublickas, Harding
Middy
Starman – Jack Simpson made some great
saves, especially the penalty but goes to Sam
Jeremiah who was a contstant menace to Wick
and showed the Hassocks faithful just what he
can do
