In an amazing transformation, Hassocks came from nowhere to win the Boxing Day derby 3-2 at St Francis Rangers in a game that perfectly reflected each team's first half of the season. The Robins began the season dismally and it was only when John Suter departed and Dave John retook control that things started to improve. In this game they were not at the races in the first half but trailed only 1-0 and were a different team after the break.

As for Rangers, their season began brightly but has latterly hit a rocky patch, with performances distinctly inconsistent. In a low quality first half they were the only team in contention and perhaps should have led by more than Sam Jeremiah's seventh minute goal. But they failed to appear after the break and gave away some soft goals as they extended their disappointing run to only one win in eight games.

Dave John has seen it all before and was not particularly surprised by the sudden transformation but for his opposite number Dan Bryan, this was another tough result to swallow. But taking a wider view, Rangers have come a long way in a short space of time and Bryan accepts that inconsistency will be almost inevitable until they become firmly established in the County League top flight.

A crowd of 201 - the best at the Hospital by 50-plus - had little to take their minds off the biting wind in the first half but no-one could argue about the entertainment rating after the break even if it was a painful time for home supporters. The lively Jeremiah had given Rangers a flying start when he scored in the seventh minute. Dan Jacques had a clearance charged down near the halfway line and Jeremiah broke with real purpose before prodding the ball past a somewhat flatfooted Jack Simpson.

The young Robins keeper suffered a couple of painful injuries in the first half. First he cracked his head on a post when ushering out a Chris Maynard shot and then took a painful blow to the body when the same home player legitimately challenged for a high ball. Although referee Neil Wallace saw it as a foul, that looked harsh on Maynard even though it was no less painful for the 17-year-old keeper.

Soon after the goal, Jeremiah again almost punished a hesitant defence and later had his cross well cut out by Simpson after fashioning an excellent break with Maynard. Those two home players featured again, with Maynard starting and almost finishing the move that led to Simpson's second spell of extensive treatment, and then Jeremiah prodding the ball just wide of the far post after once more unsettling the visiting defence.

But the balance of power was to switch dramatically immediately after the break as Robins were far more positive. They did much more in the first three minutes than they had done in the previous 45. Sam Fisk failed to get any power or direction on a shot on the turn and then Jacques thundered a close range effort against the underside of the angle after Stuart Faith flicked on a set-piece. At the other end Jeremiah's finish failed to do justice to his sweet turn after a good break by Jake Forward but it was no real surprise when Hassocks equalised on 56 minutes.

Faith, who had been pushed forward a little after the break, scored with a near post header from Anthony Hibbert's corner. It was more surprising when Rangers restored their lead on 67 minutes as hero turned villain for Hassocks. Faith was penalised for an aerial challenge on Jeremiah and the ineffective Phil Gault at least raised a smile by scoring from the spot against his old team. Nine minutes later Laurence Robinson, who was now beginning to show his skills after being completely nondescript before the break, slammed the bar after good pressure from Faith. But that near miss was almost immediately forgotten as young striker Jamie Bucket scored for the third successive game and this time only three minutes after his introduction as Rangers failed to clear a free kick.

The winner came three minutes later when Robinson took his chance neatly after a bad error of judgement by home keeper Simon Lehkyj. After that Lehkyj twice denied Robinson in rapid succession and Spencer Slaughter could have made it much more comfortable for Hassocks as he hit several well struck shots just inches wide of Lehkyj's righthand post. Overall, a draw may have been a fairer result but credit the visitors for their rousing revival and in the end Rangers could only have themselves to blame.

Hassocks: Simpson; Jacques, Marsh, Bowra, Faith, Thompson; Slaughter, Hibbert, Fisk; Amos, Robinson.

Subs: Buckett (Amos, 74), Williams, Dawson, Pitcher, Gander (not used).

Middy Starman: Stuart Faith