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Sussex County League Division
One
Tuesday
09th
September
2008
ROBINS DO
PINCHING IN DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
Hassocks 2-2
Lingfield
Just how Hassocks escaped from this
encounter with a share of the spoils was beyond the belief of
the most ardent of Robins fans, as Lingfield dominated
proceedings for most of the match, missed a hatful of chances
and were denied by an injury time equaliser by Matt Russell.
The visitors were quicker to the
ball, sharper in thought and their movement was good throughout
the team as Hassocks struggled to get a foot in the game. Ollie
Davis fired Lingfield in front as early as the 8th minute,
firing home from a Sam McCarthy cross. McCarthy missed a glaring
opportunity to double the lead soon after, missing his kick from
a fine centre by Ian Gillard. Jack Simpson pulled off excellent
stops from Craig Abbott low down to his left, at close range
from a Gillard header and scrambling away to his right to deny
Aaron Courtney from distance.
However, Simpson was a fault for
what appeared a perfectly good goal a minute into the 2nd
period, punching a Gillard cross into his own net. But referee
Machink spotted a foul on the Hassocks keeper for what looked
like minimal contact and hassocks breathed again. Lingfield
continued to surge forward with the skilful McCarthy wriggling
clear of Nick Pitcher but his effort on the angle was well saved
by Simpson again. Gillard played in Courtney but he blazed his
effort well over and then Spencer Slaughter blocked a Gillard
free kick given for a back pass by Glenn Woodburn which Simpson
picked up 8 yards from goal. Matt Russell had the Robins first
genuine chance scuffing wide after a fine flick by Matt Amos on
69 minutes.
Lingfield doubled their lead on
72, McCarthy getting the goal his work deserved, flicking in a
Chris Charlery cross. The visitors seemed content to see out
time by knocking the ball into the corners, as Hassocks posed no
threat to their goal. But as is commonly known football is a
funny game and when Laurence Robinson hooked in a James Laing
cross at the far post on 87, the home side sensed something. And
so it was in stoppage time, as Russell pounced onto Amos's
flicked header to nudge the ball past the oncoming Stacey
Bowtell to give Hassocks a point and a clear playing of their
get out of jail free card for the season!
Hassocks: Simpson, White (Bristow 90), Fitzgerald, Woodburn (Eynon
62), Pitcher, Faith, Slaughter (Laing 78), Hibbert, M Russell,
Amos, Robinson
Unused subs: McKenzie, Gander
Man of the Match: Jack Simpson -
although not the finished article made some great saves at vital
times to keep Hassocks in it
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