Sussex County League Reserve Section Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Saturday 17th February 2007
ROBINS CUP DREAM LIVES ON
Lancing 0-1 Hassocks

Hassocks Reserves earned a place in the last four of the Reserve Section Cup with a hard-fought victory at Culver Road, on Saturday. The win extends their unbeaten run to seven matches and if they can maintain current form the Reserves should look forward to an exciting but hectic Cup and league run-in to the end of the season.

In truth this was not Hassocks at their best and the victory owed much to their resilient back four and goalkeeper who absorbed sustained spells of Lancing pressure without too many frights. Hassocks started brightly but this soon gave way to Lancing controlling the midfield play, with Ian Dawson, Andy Wilson and Ian Church struggling to contain their short passing. The half passed without too many incidents until the last couple of minutes when good link up play between Richard Thomas and Dawson led to the latter putting a good deep ball into the Lancing area. Thomas won the header well, flicking the ball on to the waiting Crouch, who turned his marker superbly to finish well in the roof of the net.

Messrs Wickwar and Jewell emphasised their dissatisfaction with the performance at half time although Wickwar’s recent good news and birthday meant that he did not send himself into a frenzy of  expletives as per normal. The second half remained a rather drab affair with Lancing again holding the territorial ascendancy but Hassocks looking dangerous on the break. Dawson was put through but he chose to be unselfish and the chance disappeared. Lancing created a couple of half chances but the evergreen Brian Husbands and the stalwart Tom Stripp continued to produce a solid display at the back. Hassocks ran out one-nil winners but will need to improve in the coming fixtures if they are to do their season justice.

In addition, Wickwar and Nathan Harvey will certainly have to improve their performance on the dance floors of Burgess Hill if they are to avoid becoming the laughing stock of the town.

Churchy