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Sussex County League Division 1
Saturday
22nd
April
2009
RAGGED ROBINS
WELL BEATEN
Oakwood 0-1
Hassocks
Hassocks suffered a disappointing
1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Oakwood on Saturday, when a
lack-lustre performance had a distinct end of season feel about
it. With the Simpson brothers
and Stuart Faith all having cricket commitments, Arni Kublickas
suffering a leg injury and Laurence Robinson with tonsillitis,
Dave John had to shuffle his pack. Dan Jacques reverted to
centre back and Luke Akehurst took over at right wing back.
An overhead kick as early as the
14th minute from Chris Williams settled the issue but the
Robins, and in particular James Laing, were left to rue missing
a couple of good opportunities to at least gain a share of the
spoils. Had Laing's one-on-one effort after just eight minutes
not been tipped around the post by Anthony DiBernardo, then the
game may have taken a different shape.
Oakwood grew in confidence after
that early let-off and the goal shortly afterwards certainly
gave them a lift. After that they were the sharper team for most
of the match, which was one they had to win to have any chance
of avoiding the drop. Nathan Pullen missed the first chance of
the match as early as the third minute, volleying wide when well
placed, before Laing's pivotal miss five minutes later. Sol
Bowra blocked a Pullen effort before Oaks took the lead when
Hassocks failed to deal with a long throw from Russ Wells,
allowing the ball to bounce and Williams to score with an
acrobatic effort that gave Jason Gander no chance.
A strong wind spoiled the game
but the home side created some good chances before the interval.
Gander foiled Pullen, Williams missed a one-on-one after a
mistake by Ashley Marsh and Pullen fired straight at Gander. At
the other end, Laing headed over from a Richard Thompson cross
and Neil Kane had an effort blocked.
Chances in the second half were
at a premium but Robins thought they had equalised on the hour.
DiBernardo came and missed a diagonal Anthony Hibbert free kick
and Laing's header towards goal was somehow hooked away from
under the bar by Wells. From the resulting corner, Kane fired at
the Oak keeper and shortly after he made a save from a long
range Adam Williams shot.
Bowra cleared off the line from a
Gerald Manville header and Hibbert forced a fine diving save
from DiBernardo after Kane had been brought down on the edge of
the box. In the final 20 minutes Robinson came on, but Hassocks
rarely threatened and Oakwood held on to secure three vital
points.
Hassocks: Gander, Akehurst,
Thompson, Marsh, Bowra, Jacques, Williams (Agnew, 80),
Slaughter, Hibbert, Laing (Robinson, 77), Kane.
Unused sub: Kublickas.
Middy Starman: Very hard choice
but it goes to Jason Gander, whose handling was excellent on a
difficult afternoon.
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