IT MAY still just be the pantomime season but Hassocks put on a performance of the Rocky Horror Show on Tuesday as they lost 3-2 at home to Ringmer in a game where they appeared to be cruising to victory. Panic and an alarming lack of discipline cost them dearly as they conceded three goals in the last 12 minutes and had skipper Ashley Marsh sent off for a second bookable offence. In addition, there was an unseemly incident in front of the clubhouse when the substituted Jamie Buckett, who had played a big part in both home goals, clashed with a Ringmer supporter and pandemonium followed.

When the dust settled, Bognor referee Danny Austin and his two assistants were clearly none the wiser but decided to send both Hassocks assistant manager Mickey Jewell and Ringmer boss Bob Munnery from the bench in order to what he told them, diffuse the situation. Both the confusion and the remedy were understandable given the way discipline had deteriorated but it probably did little to solve the problem, which only came with the blowing of the final whistle 54 minutes after the second half had started.

The horrific decline in the Robins' fortunes would have been easier to understand had it been Friday the 13th rather than Tuesday the 13th. But really it was less unforgiveable than the first-half chances they squandered in a goalless first half. Buckett failed to get in a shot when getting goal-side of a rather square Ringmer defence inside the first five minutes and then on seven minutes a woeful mix-up between Aaron Hasan and Ringmer skipper Ryan MacMillan presented Laurence Robinson with an even clearer chance. Keeper Joe Adams foiled the first attempt and then Robinson spurned the second, which looked a formality.

Two other good chances fell to Buckett after that and how he missed the first may haunt him for some time. From a ball over the top, he rounded the hesitant Adams but then instead of rolling the ball into an empty net with his left foot, he decided to transfer it to his right foot and that enabled MacMillan to get back to block the tame effort. Later on, Buckett headed straight at Adams from close range and then extended the keeper, ironically with a left foot shot from the edge of the box.

It was stoppage time before Ringmer finally threatened and only because of a bad error by the Hassocks skipper. Fortunately for Marsh, young keeper Jack Simpson spared his blushes by doing well to foil David Altendorf. Those glaring home misses were forgotten as they struck twice in the first eight minutes of the second half, with Buckett the star turn. He seems to be making a habit of scoring sensational goals and his truly superb chip over Adams will probably rank as one of the most memorable. It was also the fourth successive match he had got on the scoresheet. Then he showed a good touch and great vision to send Robinson through before the big striker gently rolled the ball past the hapless Adams.

After that the hosts often surrendered ground but barely looked in any trouble at all until the first goal they conceded sent them into a state of panic. Hasan was the scorer with a close range header after Stuart Faith failed to clear a corner. In the next five minutes Hassocks conceded two more goals to leave their supporters shaking heads in disbelief and the players so frustrated that tempers began running high. Simpson did well to save the initial strike and then almost kept out a follow-up effort by Ringmer sub Mark Price and almost immediately another sub, Jo Jo Tubon, scored the winner with a low header when the home defence got into further disarray.

Things were going form bad to worse when Marsh was sent off for a second bookable offence although he had probably been fortunate not to be straight red carded earlier for his first reckless challenge on Jayson Sowter. There was still time for Sam Fisk to lose his rag but to get away with a lecture and two glaring misses to come from Sam Sowter, also lucky not to be punished for a wild challenge on Simpson when he had already been booked for an earlier rash tackle. Clearly, everyone was pleased to return to action and it was an open if not always top quality match. But somehow it all proved a little too much for Hassocks in the end.

Hassocks: Simpson; Jacques, Marsh, Faith, S Bowra, Thompson; Slaughter, Hibbert, Fisk; Buckett, Robinson.

Subs: Laing (Buckett, 72), Dawson, B Bowra, Hillwood, Gander (not used).

Starman: Plenty of candidates but it just goes to Anthony Hibbert for plenty of unselfish work in midfield