Hassocks
were edged out in a five-goal thriller at Kiln Brow
by a slick and powerful looking Redhill outfit, who
will surely be in the shake up at the end of the
season if they keep their side together. The Robins
twice came from behind and it looked as if they may
get a share of the spoils thanks to a Matt Amos
brace but with just 4 minutes remaining Andrew
Dalehouse fired home from 25 yards to give Redhill a
deserved 3 points.
Hassocks
could have no real complaints with the result, as
the home side also missed a penalty and hit the
woodwork on two occasions, as the game sprung to
life in a crazy first five minutes of the second
period, after a goalless first period. The lively
front pairing of Tony Reid and Dalehouse were a
constant threat all evening and it was certainly a
baptism of fire for young centre half Nick
Pitcher. Paul Williams denied Reid twice, once low
down to his right and then superbly tipping away a
free kick to his left. Peter Barkley also fired
over, Dalehouse fired into the side netting after
barging past Ashley Marsh and Pitcher and Aaron
Murphy shot straight at Williams after a fine
jinxing run.
Redhill
took the lead on 46 minutes, Reid slamming home
from close range after Williams had parried a
Murphy cross shot. A minute later Peter Lear
hauled down Dalehouse in the box and penalty was
awarded. Dalehouse took it himself but his kick
was superbly saved by Williams with this feet.
Against the run of play Matt Amos headed Hassocks
level from a superb Michael Bates cross on 49
minutes and then twice in the space of 4 minutes
Reid hit the inside of the post and then crashed a
shot against the bar, as Hassocks rode their luck.
The home side regained the lead in the 69th
minute, Teddy Ansell bundling the ball in after
Dalehouse had headed a Murphy centre back across
the box.
However,
the Robins fought back and levelled again on 78.
Laurence Robinson’s cross eluded Spencer
Slaughter, Ali Russell, two home defenders but not
Amos who coolly slotted pas t Shannon Ruth to
restore parity. Amos then flicked an effort wide
before Dalehouse’s pile driver sealed it on
86. Even then Amos had the chance to make it 3-3
deep into stoppage time but his goalbound effort
was blocked by Jon Hogg.
Hassocks:
Williams, White, Thompson, Marsh, Lear, Pitcher,
Bates (Robinson), Hibbert, Amos, Russell,
Slaughter
Unused
subs: Fitzgerald, Laing, McKenzie
