Mid Sussex Football League Premier Division
Monday 30th October 2006
CLASSY ROBINS THRASH CUCKFIELD
Hassocks 5-1 Cuckfield

Hassocks totally dominated this game and fully deserved to run out convincing winners against fellow strugglers Cuckfield. The biggest surprise was by half time the score was only 1-0 when Mike Demario pounced on a defenders mistake to score convincingly. 

This was after 15 minutes and was probably our fourth chance of the half with both Mike and Robbie Kitchen creating themselves good chances, which on another night would have produced goals! Robbie Kitchen was very unlucky to have been adjudged to have 'dived' in the penalty area when he clearly had been pulled back. Instead of a penalty being awarded, Robbie was shown the yellow card to the amazement of all! 

Hassocks continued to dominate in the second half and scored three times in the opening 15 minutes. Michael Bates scored his first senior goal from the club when he headed home Logan Newington cross and then Michael Demario scored his second following some nice control and then scored his hat trick a few minutes later with a shot from 12 yards out that left their goal keeper stranded. 

With the game won, Cuckfield came back in the game and pulled a goal back with more or less their 1st shot on target. Hassocks then completed the scoring, when substitute Luke Vick finished a nice flowing move which matched his wavy hair and this made it 5-1. The win moves Hassocks up the table and on Saturday they are away to league leaders Old Varndenians. 

It was nice to see Phil Wickwar play 65 minutes in the game and then admit to playing with a number of the 'teams' fathers - namely John Franks, Dicky Darbyshire, James Vick, Jim Goodrum and Spiesy old man!

Masky

Hassocks: McCarthy, Newington, Goodrum, Wickwar, Spies, Franks; Bates, Sriharan, Watkin; Demario, Kitchen

Subs: Webber, Darbyshire, Vick, Green

FROM CUCKFIELD FC:

Well a 5-1 thumping is certainly not condusive to a good night's sleep. A day at work though has given me time to digest and reflect the previous evenings events. We went into the match looking to get points from a Hassocks side we drew with earlier in the season. The preparation was disturbed by a nine car pile up on the A23 which meant players arrived in dribs and drabs. Also Jim pulled out, marooned in Peterborough and despite last minute calls I settled for a squad of 13 which was as strong as I have fielded all season. 

I don't know if it was the floodlights playing tricks on my eyes but the game seemed very fast from the first to last whistle. The first chance fell to Gunga after a defensive mistake, but his shot was straight at the 'keeper. Largely we were playing on the break, but apart from the occassional break by Robbie Kitchen, we defended pretty well. Great rugby tackle Andy or did he fall over? 

Another break saw Trusselog put Adi through but his shot was placed wide. At the other end an uncharacteristic lapse by Silver Boots let in the Hassocks wippet who sprinted half the length of the field before rounding Malc Harding to finish. At half-time we trailed 1-0 but were still well in the game. Jeff & Pammy had seen alot of play down the right side and Brian had looked to get on the ball and play whenever possible. At times we were overrun in the midfield but Roy was his normal tigerish self and Trusselog stuck to his task on the left side. 

The second half started with us struggling to cope with the tremendous pace of the youthful Hassocks players. Within 7 minutes of the restart it was 3-0, game over. Chez and Jason were immediately introduced for Roy and Panda. No reflection on the lads replaced but it was straight swaps to freshen things up a bit. The fourth goal if I recall correctly, was set up by Trusselog (sorry Steve) but the finish with pace and accuracy was quite superb from a boy hardly out of school shorts. 

To our credit, despite tiring legs and the 4-0 scoreline we kept going. Play down the right had almost dried up but Gary and Andy stuck to their tasks with Andy getting a broken nose and MOM for his efforts. Dan (now in midfield) had a couple of strong runs forward but didn't quite match the run with the shot. We did, however, get a deserved consolation when Jason set up Adi to score from close range. Quickly followed by another good break by Jason which on another day may have led to another goal. The scoring, however, was completed by Hassocks in the last five minutes.

Tonight we played a bloody good Hassocks team. We wont meet a much better side and definitely not a quicker side all season (I hope). We were well beaten in the end but 5-1 was far too harsh on us.