Mid Sussex Football League Premier Division
Saturday 23rd December 2006
HASSOCKS GO SECOND AFTER DERBY WIN
Hassocks 1-0 Wisdom Sports

Any chance of not taking this pre Christmas game seriously suffered a set back when Grandad Spiesy turned up with his kit bag full of women clothes including a very attractive pair of stilettos. However, the warm up went well and we were able to put this episode well behind us! 

On a tricky surface, Hassocks started brightly but the game soon became a mid field battle without either side creating too many chances. 

Scott McCarthy pulled off a superb save to keep the score 0-0 and then Dan Jacques missed a great chance when he got down the left side, opened up his body to strike it with his right foot and then managed to strike it about 20 metres over the bar. 

There was a 'bobble' but with a little composure he would have also noticed the support where 1 pass would have given the supporting players an open goal. 

At half time the call was to be more direct as the tricky surface made a passing game quite tricky. Hassocks began to dominate as Bates and Watkins took control of the midfield and a number of half chances were being created. 

The half time view was that 1 goal would win it and although this was one of the strangest goals scored at the Beacon we certainly deserved this bit of luck. 

A good move found Logan Newington free on the right and as he cut inside his shot took a wicked bounce that deceived the Wisdoms keeper. The bounce was similar to Shane Warne's 'wrong un' but maybe the keeper was at fault. Some said the goal should be credited to the groundsman! 

Wisdoms tried to get back in the game and apart from a couple of good opportunities were never able to create any sustained period of pressure to worry the Hassocks defence. In fact it was Hassocks who created a few more opportunities as they tried hard to get a 2nd goal. Both Bates and Ms Spies came close! 

When the ref finally blew his whistle Hassocks had deservedly won this tight game 1-0 and this puts them into 2nd place - their highest position of the season. However, having played 4 more games than anyone else in the league this is a little false. 

But it does not hide the superb effort that has been made to win 5 out of the last 7 games and we enter 2007 with a lot of confidence as we welcome back a few of the long term injured players. Happy New Year to all Hassocks players and fans!

Masky