Sussex County League Reserve Premier Division
Saturday 30th September 2006
ROBINS INTO SECOND AFTER TIGHT WIN
Hassocks 2-1 Sidley United

Hassocks went second after a 2-1 win against an experienced Sidley outfit and a depleted team edged it at the Beacon with goals from Ian Dawson and Laurence Robinson. 

In the first half Hassocks never got to grips with the game, too many passes went astray and lack of any real quality showed.

Steve Spies should have scored but his shot was the wrong side of the post after a long kick from Phil Wickwar. Sidley had a chance at the far post but Wickwar spread himself well to deny with a good save. 

Sidley took the lead when a great run from the left caught Hassocks napping and the shot which was straight at Wickwar took a wicked deflection off Alex Ternouth to leave the keeper stranded and the ball just crept inside the near post.

The second half Hassocks started better with Robinson dragging a shot wide when well placed. Mickey Jewell then swapped Dan Jacques and Dawson over and the switch worked. Dawson was much more affective wide right and with some old fashioned wing play crossed well for Robinson to get across his man and volley home for a great goal, his first for a senior side of the club.

Hassocks were now on top and the pace of Jacques got him away to be hauled down for a penalty. Dicky Fernley was on pens but had to go off with a hamstring injury, up stepped Dawson to play a one-two off the keeper for the goal.

Jordan Srihran had replaced Fernley despite the fact that he had already played that day for the thirds and he got in round the back and should have scored with both attempts. Spies then closed down the keeper to be left with an open goal only to tap it so the full back could walk in and clear it off the line, yet it still didn't make it into the Spies worst miss top ten!

With 15 to go Brendan Leahy replaced Spies, and with 14 to go Leahy injured his other knee after a long lay off. Gutted! This meant youth keeper Jack Simpson made his debut with the versatile Wickwar going from goal into midfield. 

Hassocks saw out the game for a great win given the situation of having two subs at the start, one a keeper and the third arriving late having played a game earlier! Hassocks know Thursday's game at YMCA will be tougher, but can only hope some of the ten players missing from the weekend are back.

Wickers