Sussex County
League Division 1
Saturday
10th October 2009
HAWKS
GIVEN SCARE BY PLUCKY ROBINS
Hassocks
3-5 Whitehawk
Hassocks
gave the all stars of Whitehawk a mighty scare
before succumbing to a 5-3 defeat in a hugely
entertaining afternoon at the Beacon. Neil
Kane’s brace inside the first 20 minutes gave
the home supporters in a sizeable crowd of 160
hope of an upset but ultimately the Hawks ground
out a win that maintained their position at the
top of the table, despite playing the final 25
minutes with 10 men after Jay Lovett had been
dismissed following a professional foul.
Kane
gave Hassocks the lead on 13 minutes, tapping in
from close range and he doubled the advantage
four minutes later when he converted Arni
Kublickas’ centre from an Anthony Hibbert
pass. The Hawks were clearly flustered and
despite the Robins missing injury victims Terry
Gacias and Phil Gault were in charge. However on
21 Matt Geard was given too much space on the
edge of the box and his pinpoint shot found its
way into the bottom corner to halve the deficit.
Michael Bates headed narrowly wide but on 32
minutes Whitehawk levelled after a comedy moment
from Sol Bowra. Twice he failed to clear from
the byeline and his second scuffed clearance
fell to Josh Jones who crossed for Scott
Kirkwood to slot home. Despite Whitehawk keeping
the ball well, Hassocks had a good chance just
before the interval when Hibbert failed to
connect properly to a Kane cross.
The
second half saw Whitehawk start brightly, Bowra
was having a torrid afternoon especially against
the lively Wes Tate and when Tate played in
James Frazer, Joel Harding had to be alert to
parry well. However, he could do nothing about
Lovett’s 25 yarder on 51 minutes that took a
wicked deflection off Ashley Marsh before
finding the net. Frazer curled a shot wide and
their were cautions for Spencer Slaughter and
Bowra. Harding again saved well this time from
Tate, after he had spun away from Bowra and Jay
Head headed over. On 66 minutes Hassocks were
handed a lifeline when Kane was felled in the
box by Lovett as he went through on goal and
afternoon unnecessary consultation with this
assistant, referee Nick Brown awarded a spot
kick and sent off Lovett. Hibbert sent Stuart
Robinson the wrong way from the kick and
Hassocks were level.
However,
Hassocks failed to take advantage of the extra
man and Whitehawk controlled possession and on
69 went ahead, Tate skipping clear to round
Harding before slotting home, with the Robins
defence left floundering. There was a welcome
debut for Sam Jeremiah but he had little impact
and in the 90th minute a ball through
the middle again found Tate and he outpaced
Bowra to find the net albeit somewhat
fortunately after the ball looped off Harding
after he had got a good amount of it.
Whilst
the outcome was disappointing, Hassocks
certainly competed and no one in the crowd could
have not left happy with the afternoon’s
entertainment.
Hassocks:
Harding, Jacques, Marsh, Bowra, Faith,
Kublickas; Bates (Clark 54), Slaughter, Hibbert;
Laing (Jeremiah 78), Kane
Subs:
Jeremiah (Laing 78), Clark (Bates 54), I
Simpson, Woods, Gander (unused)
Starman: Despite letting in 5 goals Joel Harding
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