Sussex County League Division 1
Saturday 20th February 2010
TEAM SPIRIT IS ETHIC FOR ROBINS IN SUBLIME PERFORMANCE
Hassocks 2-0 Hailsham Town

Every once in a while, usually in the face of adversity, Hassocks produce a superb all round team performance, which frustrates and delights in equal measures and Saturday was one such occasion. Missing at least seven first team regulars the Robins showed magnificent team spirit, an abundance of flair in possession and a solid base at the back in sending in-form Hailsham Town to their first defeat in six in a 2-0 win.

What was most pleasing for the management and supporters alike was the amount of time Hassocks spent in possession and how at ease they looked, in stark contrast to the week before at East Grinstead when they gave the ball away at will and nobody appeared willing to take the game by the scruff of the neck. This week they dominated proceedings and had it not been for Glen Jenner in the Hailsham goal, the score could have been 5 or 6 nil. However Hailsham did start brightly but once the Robins had weathered early scares when Stuart Lewis headed wide and Ashley Jarvis fired over, they took control of midfield with Hibbert, Gault and Daley Clark dominating. With Sol Bowra suspended, Kieran O’Callaghan came in to partner his old university team mate Peter Lear and they formed a rock solid duo, with O’Callaghan in particularl looking assured and surging forward with confidence when allowed. Dan Jacques and Richard Thompson hardly wasted a pass, with Thompson forcing a brilliant fingertip save from Jenner from 6 yards and then Clark thundering a shot against Jenner’s bar from 22 yards following a corner. Hibbert forced another save low down and the same player chipped just over. There was a scare at the over end with the reliable Ashley Marsh clearing off the line from Dave Harris, whilst on 45 minutes Sam Jeremiah was denied by Jenner’s grab on the line after the Hailsham stopper had fumbled a Clark header.

In the first minute of the second half, Jeremiah showed the Hassocks faithful what an asset he can be with a mazy, weaving run that ended with a shot hitting the arm of Paul Richardson but referee Ryan Ellis deemed it accidental and waved away the penalty shouts. Ellis should be commended on an excellent performance, allowing the game to flow and not booking anyone but instead defusing any flashpoints with a quiet word to the player. Hassocks enjoyed a lot of possession but found the Town back line a difficult nut to crack, James Laing having an effort blocked and Gault’s free kick being saved to his right by Jenner. Laing curled an effort wide and Gault’s audacious 35 yard shot flew narrowly over when he spotted Jenner back pedalling.

The deadlock was broken on 74 minutes, when Laing, Hibbert and Clark combined to play in Thompson’s who’s brilliant cross was nodded in at the far post by Laing, who had continued his run. A minute later it was 2-0 when Laing fed Hibbert unmarked on the edge of the box and his shot took a slight deflection to beat Jenner and double the Robins lead, one which was richly deserved on their play. Neil Kane came off the bench on 82 minutes but he lasted only 2 minutes when he was bundled over just outside the box, with his shoulder momentarily popping out of its socket  he had to leave the field. Deep in stoppage time Jenner brilliantly tipped Hibbert’s free kick onto the post to avert a third, in what was arguably the most pleasing team performance of a Jekyll and Hyde campaign for the Robins.

 

Hassocks: J Simpson, Jacques, Thompson, Marsh, O’Callaghan, Lear, Clark, Gault, Hibbert, Laing, Jeremiah

Subs: Kane (Laing, 82), Bates (Kane, 84), Dawson (Clark 90)

Starman: Very difficult when the whole team performs so admirably but just goes to Kieran O’Callaghan, who looked composed and solid in equal measures