Sussex County League Reserve Premier Division
Saturday 27th January 2007
GAULT DOUBLE GIVES ROBINS VICTORY
Hassocks 2-1 Hastings United

A strong Hassocks reserve squad picked up three deserved points in a highly entertaining game against a good Hastings side. On a perfect day for football Hastings started brightly and were impressive with their neat two touch play, though without really troubling the Hassocks goal. As the half progressed Hassocks improved with Phil Gault (who has been found out after two first team games!) and Dan Jacques causing a few problems but collectively they did not reach the standards they have set in recent weeks. However, in saying that with better finishing Hassocks should have had a two goal advantage before Hastings took the lead.

After Hassocks gave the ball away in midfield, the Hastings right winger crossed and poor defending allowed the attacker a free shot (I think he was Simmo's man!) and although he did not make the most of it a slight deflection off the unfortunate (and as usual faultless) Husbands landed at the feet of a Hastings player two yards out and he could not miss - and didn't! At half time Wickers was his normal self with a some rants and no shortage of industrial language though to be fair remained fairly composed. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Michael Jewell (assistant manager) who appeared to be less pleased than Wickers and let every single player have it (except for golden child Gault).

However, it appeared to work as Hassocks started much brighter and took control of the game though the quality Hastings had meant that they were always a danger (especially up front), but Simpson, Ternouth and especially Husbands (who gets better with age) were again a match for everything they could offer. Mid way through the second half Strippy made his comeback appearance for the injured Simpson and straight away the fans were diving for cover! It has been claimed that since Stripp re-signed the insurance premiums for the windows of the clubhouse have trebled...........

Hassocks continued to press and after Gault managed to drag a shot horribly wide when clean through finally equalised when the goal machine Gault got on the end of a good Richard Thompson cross and planted a header in the corner. Hassocks then really upped their game (after the hung-over Wilson was withdrawn!) and always looked likely to score again.

The goal finally came when super sub Crouchy made an impressive run down the left crossed for Gault to score his second from close range. Crouchy was obviously not happy at being sub and said to a team-mate "see I told you I should have started - he doesn't know what he's doing" (which to be fair is not miles off the mark!) With 5 minutes to go Hassocks brought on Wickwar to help see them home but he obviously had the game down as a draw on his coupon (make your own conclusions) and it is fair to say that as the manager we 'do as he says not as he does'.......However, the final whistle came before any damage could be done and brought the end to a good game and three valuable points for the Robins.

Huzzy