Hassocks were taught a lesson
by an experienced and well-drilled Whitehawk at a chilly
East Brighton Park on Saturday. The
4-0 scoreline did not flatter the home side, who dominated
from start to finish and could have ended up with an even
bigger win. That begs the question as to why they occupy
such a lowly position in the County League table.
You just had to look at the
three second half subs that they brought on – Kevin
Townsend, Andy Beech and Roy Pook – to see the gulf in
class and with ex-Brighton player Joe Gatting up front,
they must surely start climb the table in the coming
weeks. The young Robins looked jaded after their extra
time win over Mile Oak in midweek and it did not help that
they were chasing the ball and defending for most of the
afternoon.
Gareth Green curled a free
kick just over early on and Leo Day had a shot deflected
wide. Day also picked up an early booking for a cynical
tackle on Jamie Hillwood. An inswinging corner from Aaron
Gunn caused chaos in the Robins defence, with Hillwood
heading off the line as home players claimed the ball had
crossed the line. The visitors had to bring on James Laing
for Anthony Hibbert on the half hour when the county
midfielder took a knee in the back from his own keeper
Jack Simpson.
A minute later Hawks went
ahead, Gatting easily heading in from a fine Green centre.
The influential Stuart Garrod shot wide before Hassocks
had their best chance of the half in the final minute.
Laurence Robinson raced clear but his first touch was poor
and Ross Standen was able to save. Hawks doubled their
lead in the 47th minute when Standen's huge punt upfield
caught out Ashley Marsh and Gatting pounced. Simpson saved
the iniital effort but was unable to prevent the ex-Albion
man from the rebound.
Afer that it was a case of
damage limitation as the hosts surged forward. The third
came on 62 minutes, Simpson fumbling a long range effort
from Pook and Garrod poking home via a post, and in the
84th minute, Garrod swept home a superb cross on the run
from Pook.
Hassocks: Simpson, Eynon
(Williams, 71), Thompson (Rose, 76), Marsh, Faith, Bowra,
Hillwood, Slaughter, Hibbert (Laing, 30), Buckett,
Robinson.
