Sussex County League Division 1
Saturday 09^th August 2008
WINNING START FOR NEW LOOK ROBINS
East Preston 1-2 Hassocks

HASSOCKS have not always been the best of starters in recent seasons but on Saturday the new management team got off to a winning start at the Lashmar, where there have been even more changes than at the Beacon. It has to be stated that the result was undoubtedly the best thing about the performance although at this early stage that is not of huge concern. It always takes three or four weeks for things to settle down but too many points dropped in that time can have long-lasting effects.

The Robins were never behind although both goals came somewhat out of the blue against a home side still getting their act together after the departure of manager Chris White and the appointment of Trevor Waller as his replacement. The Horsham YMCA connection would not have been lost on many, with White taking over there from John Suter, who has now teamed up with Hassocks' new boss Mickey Jewell. Not suprisingly, the visitors now include several ex-YM players in their squad and although few figured in this match, one of them, James Bird, also well known to Burgess Hill fans, looked like he can do a good holding and/or playmaking job in midfield.

Clearly the holding role has also been assigned to another ex-YM man Tom White although he virtually swopped with right back Matt Percival in the second half. With the wind advantage, it was right the visitors push on a little more and Percival was prominent if not always assured. He was not alone in the latter department as Hassocks were guilty of giving away possession far too easily on occasions.

The two Hassocks goals came 12 minutes into each half, with Anthony Hibbert scoring the first after the hosts had made most of the running from the opening whistle, with Sonny Banks and Phil Churchill looking lively. Hassocks' new keeper Paul Williams deserves some credit for the goal as he was bold coming out to gather the ball near the edge of his own box from where he delivered a good clearance that was nodded on by James Laing. Matt Amos then knocked it square for Hibbert to strike a shot that home keeper Dean Fuller was desperately disappointed to let through his hands as he dived to his left.

If EP were unlucky to be behind at that point, any feelings of misfortune were shortlived as little more than two minutes later Bognor referee Andy Massey ruled that Peter Lear's challenge on Banks was late and Churchill duly equalised from the spot. After that Hassocks looked capable of unpicking the home defence and for a while seemed to win everything in the air. But there were no more goals until 12 minutes after the break when Robins again struck out of the blue. Spencer Slaughter was 25 yards from goal when he unleashed a low drive that seemed to catch the hapless Fuller by surprise. He may not have got down to it in time but an attempt of some sort may have been appreciated by his team-mates.

After that it was fairly comfortable for the visitors, who could even afford to substitute both strikers in a five-minute spell. That gave a senior debut to Lindfield goal machine of last season Aaron Walsh and a debut to another of the YM contingent, Ali Russell. It was only in the closing minutes when Hassocks began to back off a little too much that EP threatened an equaliser. Chris Bowyer was wide from possibly the best chance although in the closing seconds Lear made up for that earlier penalty with a superb block in the six-yard box.

With Joel Harding off travelling the world, Hassocks defender Ashley Marsh has given the skipper’s armband by Jewell, who afterwards announced himself pleased with the result. “It was good to get off with a win and although it wasn’t the best of performances, there were some good things and we still have plenty of players to come back.”

Hassocks: Williams; Percival, Marsh, Lear, Thompson; White, Bird, Hibbert, Slaughter; Amos, Laing

Subs: Walsh (Amos, 75), Russell (Laing, 80), Akehurst, Mackenzie & Millward (not used)

Middy Starman: James Bird, particularly effective in the first half

Report courtersy of Chris Francis, Mid Sussex Times