The visitors
enjoyed more possession than their hosts and
probably had the best player on the pitch in
Matt Percival but it counted for little in the
final analysis. And their misery was complete
six minutes from time when Mark Price was sent
off for a comment to referee Darren Eaton.
In an even
first half that lacked real quality, both
sides had chances but Robins scored the only
goal on 37 minutes when a short corner was
played to Dan Jacques and his cross to the far
post was headed in via the bar by Phil Gault,
who was virtually on the line. In weather
better suited to watching than playing, the
hosts struck twice in the first 13 minutes of
the second half to seal the win.
Ringmer were
clearly upset by Mr Eaton's award of a free
kick just outside their box on 55 minutes and
their feeling of injustice was heightened as
Gault curled in a shot that keeper Gary Trott
got plenty on but could not prevent going in.
Poor Trott was
even more disappointed three minutes later
when he could only palm out another Jacques
cross for Anthony Hibbert to provide a cool,
half volleyed finish. There was no way back
for the visitors from there although they
continued to see more of the ball than
Hassocks. Their skipper for the day Aaron
Hassan became increasingly frustrated and he
was booked for protesting too much as both
teams rang the changes.
Unlike his
opposite number, home keeper Joel Harding
showed strong hands to beat away a powerful
strike by Percival on 75 minutes but from the
resulting corner could only watch and count
his blessings as the unmarked Hassan's shot
cannoned back off the underside of the bar.
Even then the danger was not over as Percival
tried his luck with another powerful low drive
that Harding was equal to. But that was about
the best Ringmer could muster and they
finished well beaten and with only 10 men.
Hassocks:
Harding; Jacques, Kublickas, Marsh, Bowra,
Faith; Slaughter, Hibbert, Gacias; Gault,
Amos.
Subs: Simpson
(Faith, 58), Kane (Amos, 69), Bates
(Kublickas, 72).
Starman: It has
to go to Phil Gault because his first two
efforts effectively won the match.
