3
times last season Hassocks lost to Whitehawk. They
failed to score on each occasion and in fairness
rarely looked like doing so. So after a trip to
Arundel and home match against Crowborough, the
Enclosed Ground at Whitehawk was not the fixture the
Robins would have chosen after a tough FA Cup battle
against Rye. However, Hassocks are a tough nut to
crack nowadays, with greater resolve and appetite
for a battle and this was evident on Tuesday, as the
Robins came away with a valuable point in a 1-1
draw.
Traditionally
games are tight between the sides and this was no
exception, with clear cut chances few and far
between. The Hawks were more composed on the ball
but Hassocks' grit and determination, especially
uphill in the second period probably gave them a
deserved share of the spoils.
Phil
Gault had headed just over from Sam Fisk's excellent
centre on 12 minutes, the striker probably thinking
he should have scored given the amount of space he
found in the box. Anthony Hibbert and Gault both
picked up bookings in the first half for the Robins.
Whitehawk took the lead on 35 minutes. Sam Fisk,
playing at right wing back in place of the injured
Mickey Turner, was harshly adjudged to have handled,
when the ball clearly hit his chest and from the
resulting free kick, Matt Allen poked in at the far
post from Tommy Pattenden's hook back. Keeper Joel
Harding had come for the cross but failed to get to
it and must shoulder some of the blame, although
mistakes he makes throughout the season can usually
be counted on one hand!
Early
chances in the second half fell to Toby Phillips,
who headed just wide from 6 yards and Allen, who was
denied by a fine tackle by Brendan Leahy. Once again
the Hassocks back line of Fisk, Lear, Marsh, Leahy
and Thompson looked solid, although Harding saved
well with his legs from Matt Hill on 69. Hassocks
equalised on 71, Hibbert's dinky ball fell to Fisk
who lashed home past Ross Standen from 15 yards.
Harding parried a Harry Coker 30 yarder away for a
corner and despite some late pressure from the home
side with excellent crosses and inexplicably 8
minutes of stoppage time, the Robins held firm for a
good away point.
Team:
Harding, Fisk, Thompson, Marsh, Lear, Leahy,
Robbins, Faith, Hibbert, Gault, Amos
Unused
subs: Slaughtet, Franks, Newington, Wickwar
