Sussex County
League Division 1
Saturday
13th February 2010
DEPLETED
ROBINS BATTLE FOR HARD EARNED POINT
East
Grinstead Town 0-0 Hassocks
Hassocks will view
this as a point gained against a struggling
Grinstead outfit and had Dan Jacques’
exquisite chip deep into stoppage time crossed
the line instead of rolling across it after
hitting the inside of the post, the Robins
would have taken 3 highly unlikely points.
Already missing
long term injury victims Terry Gacias and
Stuart Faith and the suspended Spencer
Slaughter, Dave John lost keeper Joel Harding
with a horrific facial wound that he suffered
playing for Sussex in midweek. Harding needed
emergency surgery and 20 stitches from an
awful high challenge from an Army player,
although he was at the game and seemed fairly
upbeat despite the injury and at least a month
on the sidelines.
With both
Kieran O’Callaghan and Richard Thompson
unavailable, Sam Jeremiah came in to partner
James Laing up front in his first full
Hassocks appearance. Jeremiah looked rusty and
short of match fitness but he’s runs were
encouraging and once he finds his touch again
he will surely add much needed firepower to
the Robins’ cause, especially with Neil Kane
still injured. Jack
Simpson made his first appearance of the
campaign and despite a nervy start when he
failed to deal with a succession of Grinstead
corners, he saved smartly twice from Dave
Gellatly and once more from the lively Luke
Piscina. In front of him Ashley Marsh and
especially Peter Lear had excellent games,
whilst Jaccques, clearly hampered by an early
calf injury, was a good outlet going forward.
However, when Hassocks did get the ball they
were woeful in possession, giving the ball
away at alarming intervals, allowing the Wasps
to dominate proceedings. Phil Gault had
Hassocks’ best chance of the half when he
headed at Liam Lindsay, whilst Jeremiah
chipped tamely at Lindsay when he got the
better of Marc Pelling. Just before the break
Matt Crane blazed over from 12 yards, as
Hassocks got to the interval unscathed.
The second half
started brightly with chances at either end.
Jeremiah robbed Scott Johnson, played in Laing
but his shot lacked power and Lindsay saved.
Moments Piscina showed a few tricks to set up
a shooting chance but Simpson was equal to it
low down. The same player was then denied in a
one on one situation by Simpson and twice
Gellatly shot over as Grinstead gained the
ascendancy as the Robins hung on. Daley
Clark limped off injured on 84 minutes, Tom
Barnes replacing him. Piscina again tested
Simpson before Hassocks had 2 great chances to
steal the points at the death. Jeremiah found
space to chip Lindsay but his effort
agonisingly landed on the roof of the net and
then in the 93rd minute, Marsh won
possession on the edge of the box, fed
Jeremiah after a marauding run and when the
strikers shot was parried into Jacques’ path
his chip hit the inside of the post, rolled
along the line and the referee blew for full
time. It
would have been rough justice on the hosts but
despite not being anywhere near their best the
Robins will look at this as a point gained.
Hassocks: Simpson,
Jacques, Kublickas, Marsh, Bowra, Lear, Clark
(Barnes 84), Laing, Hibbert, Gault, Jeremiah
Unused sub:
Dawson
Middy starman –
Ashley Marsh and Peter Lear were outstanding,
but just goes to Lear who seems to be getting
back to his best after his lay off
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