Hassocks
rounded off their Division One home fixtures
with one of the most solid and assured
displays of an inconsistent season, with a
comfortable 2-0 win over in-form Crowborough
Athletic. A sizeable crowd saw 2nd
half goals from Anthony Hibbert (penalty)
and Phil Gault with a header gave Dave John
a good send off after he announced his
resignation as first team manager at the
Robins before the game.
The
Crows were on a fine run, having climbed
clear of the relegation zone in recent weeks
but Hassocks controlled the game, keeping
possession well and looking solid at the
back as they kept successive clean sheets
for only the third time this season. James
Laing and Nathan Miles both shot wide across
the face early on but chances were few and
far between in the first half hour, although
Joel Harding parried a fierce effort from
Dave Adams and Nathan Millroy fired over the
rebound. Laing then hit the bar with a
spectacular effort from 35 yards that beat
Ben Head but the young Crows stopper reacted
well to deny both Miles and Gault from the
rebound. Sam Carrington hit the side netting
from a tight angle and there was a rare
booking for Peter Lear as he was deemed to
have blocked off the same striker as he
chased a long ball.
The
second half was more open with Miles beating
the offside trap early on to set up Gault
who in turn fed Hibbert, who’s shot flew
just wide. Miles then crossed for Gault
who’s effort was deflected for a corner
from which Head backpedalled and turned
Hibbert’s effort over. The deadlock was
broken on 62 minutes when Tom Boddy was
adjudged to have handled Richard
Thompson’s high cross, although the young
defender claimed he was pushed and Hibbert
confidently sent Head the wrong way from the
spot and claim his 98th Hassocks
goal. Ashley Marsh blocked a Sam Reid shot
but the best chances fell to the home side,
Hibbert being denied by the foot of Head
after Gault played him in before Gault
doubled the lead on 77, heading in at the
far post from Hibbert’s cross, although
once again Crowborough felt aggrieved saying
the ball hadn’t crossed the line but it
clearly had.
Substitute
Daley Clark’s first action saw him race
onto a Laing pass only to blaze over from 20
yards and Gault saw another effort saved by
Head as Hassocks held on comfortably and
record their 12th win of the
campaign.
Hassocks:
Harding, Kublickas, Thompson, Marsh,
Jacques, Lear, Bates, Laing, Hibbert, Gault,
Miles
Subs:
Clark (Miles 87), Kane, Barnes (unused)
Starman: Good all round team performance
but just goes to Phil Gault who was at the
hub of all things good
