Hassocks
booked their place in the next round of the FA Cup
and earned £500 with a close and feisty victory
against Rye on Saturday. In a physical clash that
ended with the dismissal of Rye skipper Marc Gall
for allegedly spitting in the face of Hassocks
defender Ashley Marsh after the final whistle, a
late strike by Phil Gault was enough to settle the
tie. Players from both sides clashed on the pitch
after the final whistle and Marsh had to be
restrained by Hassocks skipper Joel Harding. Gall
became the fourth Rye player to be sent off in the
space of a week and that figure could quite easily
have been five as midfielder Duncan McArthur was
lucky to stay on the pitch after shoving Gault in
the face late on.
However,
it must be stated that both sides generally played
the game in the right spirit and there was no
shortage of passion and determination. In the end
the Robins deservedly ground out an impressive win.
Reflecting on the result afterwards, home boss Dave
John said: "I think we deserved to win.
Although it was a pretty even first half, we raised
the tempo in the second half and played some good
football." As the rain continued to fall, home
supporters were able to a first victory in the
Beacon's magnificent new clubhouse.
The
first meaningful chance was created by the hosts on
eight minutes when Gault shot wide from what was
arguably the best move of the afternoon. Richard
Thompson delivered a superb cross that evaded keeper
Harry Killick and found the outstrectched boot of
Gault, who unfortunately failed to make sufficient
contact. The visitors responded well and almost took
the lead in the 16th minute when only a superb
challenge by veteran Mickey Turner prevented Colin
Johnston playing in Allan McMinigal, who was left
completely unmarked in a great shooting position.
Shortly
afterwards,
however, it was Hassocks who should have gone ahead
when on 23 minutes the hardworking Gault failed to
control the ball with his chest after Gall
carelessly sent him through on goal. For the rest of
the first half chances were few and far between but
Hassocks improved after the break and posed far more
problems the previously defiant Rye rearguard. Sam
Fisk and Matt Amos both went close to scoring before
in the 74th minute the outstanding Gault fired the
ball home as the Rye defence failed to clear a
corner. Although the visitors purposefully tried to
exert pressure on the Hassocks back line in the
closing stages, they never really looked liked
scoring.
Hassocks:
Harding; Turner, Marsh, Lear, Leahy, Thompson;
Robbins, Fisk, Hibbert; Gault, Amos.
Unused
subs: Slaughter, Woods, Franks, Newington, Wickwar.
Middy
Starman: Phil Gault took his goal well and never
stopped running.
