These are worrying times
for Hassocks after they slumped to their fifth
league defeat of the season with Saturday's 3-1
reverse at Pagham. Despite
leading at the interval, their second half
performance could only be described as woeful as
they capitulated badly and were beaten again by two
goals in the last five minutes.
A return of nine
points from 10 league games can only be described as
relegation form and unless things turn around
quickly, the Robins could find themselves in the
unfamiliar position of becoming embroiled in a
relegation dogfight. The passion and fight that was
a trademark of recent Hassocks sides was sadly
lacking, as the hosts, missing a number of regulars,
dominated the second half and thoroughly deserved
their victory.
Hassocks started
brightly enough, with Jamie Hillwood forcing an
excellent save low to his left by Rob McLelland.
At the other end, the recalled Paul Williams pulled
off a terrific point blank save to deny Dan Martin,
with Stuart Faith clearing the rebound off the line.
Williams then saved with his feet from Jordan Willis
before Hassocks took the lead.
Spencer Slaughter's
through ball was placed past the advancing McLelland
by Anthony Hibbert from the edge of the box with 28
minutes gone. The assistant had flagged for offside
against James Laing but referee Bob Bell overruled
him as Hibbert's run was from an onside position.
Hibbert then fired over the bar and Willis did the
same at the other end.
Pagham equalised on
48 minutes. Hillwood lost possession midway inside
his own half, Martin squared the ball and the
impressive Rob Wimble swept home from 10 yards. With
time running it was the pace of Pagham sub Michael
Frangou that undid Robins. On 86 minutes he easily
outpacing Faith before crossing for Wimble to lash
home.
Moments earlier Faith
had hit the bar with a header from Hibbert's corner
and clearly it was not going to be Robins' day when
Wimble completed his hat-trick by hammering home a
magnificent 30-yarder in stoppage time to send
Hassocks' to successive 3-1 defeats.
Hassocks: Williams,
Jacques (Bird, 65), Marsh, Pitcher, Faith, White,
Russell, Slaughter (Eynon, 81), Laing (Bristow, 73),
Hibbert, Hillwood.
Middy Starman: not
awarded.
Report courtersy of
the Mid Sussex Times
