Sussex Intermediate Cup Third Round
Saturday 16th December 2006
ROBINS SCRAPE THROUGH ON PENALTIES
Willingdon Athletic 2-2 Hassocks

Hassocks travelled to Willingdon in the Intermediate cup and a dire performance was put in but into the next round of the cup is all that matters.

The Robins never got to grips with the really heavy pitch and too many changes to the team and probably too many Christmas parties. 

Hassocks went 1-0 down when a corner was not dealt with and Willingdon's number ten was left unmarked to slam in form eight yards. The game sparked into life just before half time when Willingdon's number two was sent off for an elbow on Brian Husbands right in front of the home support.

With joint manager Mickey Jewell absent Phil Wickwar kept his troops out at half time for a "little" chat and it seemed to work as Richard Thomas got away and crisply finished into the bottom corner. Instead of moving on Hassocks still couldn't get to grip's with the heavy bumpy pitch! 

Wickwar was forced into a change when Mark Darbyshire was replaced by debut boy Michael Bates, and he showed the more experienced lads the way forward with his energy and passing. Sam Franksreplaced Jordan Srihran who had started to struggle. 

Grandad Spies replaced the tired Thomas who had had his first outing for nearly two months and had done well. Hassocks pressed in extra time and Bates got on the end of a cross for a great finish but Hassocks had been poor all day and they let the Willingdon player ghost through three tackles to finish sweetly. 

Penalties it was! Nathan Harvey: missed. Dan Jacques: goal. Alex Ternouth: goal. Ian Simpson: goal. Steve Spies: goal.

The rest was left to Jack Simpson and the school boy who had been brilliant all game saved the final penalty, one of two in the shoot out to send Hassocks through to face South Bersted in the next round at home 

Thanks to the support and well done to Jack and debut boys Franksy and Batesy

Wickers