ROBINS BOW OUT OF FA CUP TO RUTHLESS MERSTHAM AT BAKING BEACON
The FA Cup dream is over for Hassocks at the first hurdle after the Robins were well beaten 3-1 by Combined Counties League side Merstham at the Beacon.
On a baking hot day, the visitors had the edge in energy, quality and ruthlessness. They punished defensive errors from the Robins to the maximum and in truth, had the game won by half time.
Merstham went into the interval 2-0 ahead and Hassocks rarely looked like launching a comeback. Pat Harding did score midway through the second half but the deficit was cut to one for less than 120 seconds before the Moatsiders regained their two-goal advantage.
The warning signs were there for Hassocks as early as the seventh minute. The lively Shayne Traynor sent a wicked cross which flashed across the edge of the box. Gavin Gordon was millimetres away from applying the finishing touch as the Robins escaped.
Joel Harding then had to be alert, rushing from his line to clear after a Chris Hewitt mistake looked like it might leave Gordon with a clear run at goal.
Minutes 10 to 30 were scrappy. Passes went astray and concentration was poor with both sides struggling in the intense heat.
A drinks break just before the half hour mark was much welcomed by all and led to a slight improvement in quality, although Hassocks were still yet to create a worthwhile chance when Merstham took the lead on 36 minutes.
Mickey Turner and Andy Fisk were badly caught out with some sloppy play on the right. Turner lost possession to Matt Dymock, whose through ball put Steve Roleode in one-on-one.
The Robins were convinced Roleode was offside. Those appeals fell on deaf ears as Roleode rounded the helpless Harding and fired home. Hassocks protests continued long after the ball had hit the back of the net but to no avail.
It got worse for the Robins on the stroke of half time. Hassocks failed to get to grips with Moatsiders winger Jermal Carr all afternoon.
He skipped through a series of non existent tackles before squaring for Gordon to slot home and give the Moatsiders their two goal cushion.
The Robins enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half, upping the tempo at the same time as Merstham seemed content to sit back on their lead.
Turner crossed for James Laing to head just wide and Pat Harding had a shot blocked by Chris Boulter which appeared to be heading in. Boulter was every bit as impressive at the heart of the Moatsiders defence as the visitors were going forward.
When Harding struck on 65 minutes with a crisp left foot finish from an acute angle, Hassocks sensed the game might be about to turn in their favour.
Any hopes of an equaliser proved to be short-lived as within two minutes, Merstham made it 3-1. A dangerous in-swinging corner had Harding under pressure.
When the Hassocks goalkeeper could only push the ball down towards the ground, Roleode was left with the easiest of tap ins from a yard out.
Dave John introduced Ian Dawson for the veteran Andy Fisk for the final 20 minutes but even with fresh, younger legs in midfield, Hassocks struggled to create another meaningful chance.
That is not to say they did not try; there was plenty of huffing and puffing. Just a lack of energy or finesse to break down a solid Merstham back line, meaning hopes of a decent FA Cup run and some good prize money were ended.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Nick Newman, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Low, Richard Thompson; Graham Beveridge, Andy Fisk, Joe Fernley; James Laing, Pat Harding.
Subs: Ian Dawson (Fisk 72), Tom Stripp, Stuart Faith, Steve Hudson, Phil Wickwar (unused).
