MAGNIFICENT ROBINS COAST THROUGH THANKS TO HARDING HEROICS
For just the second time in their history, Hassocks are into the second qualifying round of the FA Cup – and in some style too after an emphatic 3-0 win away at Chessington & Hook United.
The Robins arrived at Chalky Lane cautiously optimistic of success. Or as cautiously optimistic of success as a side managed by the realistic Dave John are allowed to be by their grounded boss.
You see, Chessington are yet to win a Combined Counties League game so far this season. They did though defeat Southern League Sittingbourne in the preliminary qualifying round, a result that would have left John and his players expecting a far tougher examination than they ultimately faced.
Hassocks created chance after chance in an outstanding display which the hosts had no answer to, leaving the Robins as the last County League side standing in the competition.
Chessington struggled to contain Pat Harding in particular. Harding’s constant craving for goals led him to notch a second FA Cup brace of the season to go with the double he plundered against Erith Town in the extra preliminary round.
Before he opened the scoring in the 26th minute, Harding had a perfectly good goal ruled out for a terrible offside decision.
The Robins’ talisman had clearly sprung the offside trap, being at least four yards onside before accelerating onto a through ball when the flag went up.
When it was not a friendly flag preventing Hassocks taking the lead, it was the woodwork. Stuart Faith smashed the outside of the post shortly Harding’s offside. Harding then got away again, only to be denied by the tee trunk legs of Chessington goalkeeper Robbie Orchard.
Hassocks eventually broke the deadlock when Harding fired home from a tight angle. Harding then fired over on the half hour mark, a moment which seemed to spark Chessington into life.
United enjoyed their best spell of the game in the 15 minute run up to half time. Neil Wicks headed straight at Joel Harding when well placed.
Giant centre forward Daniel Moorhouse then produced a miss which beggared belief on 38 minutes, rounding Harding but somehow firing against the crossbar with the entire goal at his mercy.
That was a massive let off for Hassocks, who then lost the services of defender Brendan Leahy on the stroke of half time with a shoulder problem.
Leahy was replaced by his brother Kieran a minute before the break. Given the way that Chessington had finished the half and the disruption to their backline, the travelling Robins support – who outnumbered their home counterparts by three to one – were delighted to get into the interval ahead.
Most spectators expected that United would take the game to Hassocks in the second half. Strangely, Chessington seemed less eager to attack and it was actually the Robins who began to force the issue looking for a second goal.
Faith and the evergreen Mickey Turner had efforts blocked in a goalmouth scramble which was ended when Graham Beveridge hooked over.
James Laing then headed a Turner cross over the bar following an enterprising run up the flank by the Robins’ right wing back.
Chessington were being restricted to half chances at best. Moorhouse placed a header at Harding and Glen Nicholls scuffed a shot wide.
The efforts of young Ashley Marsh were particularly crucial in keeping United quite. Marsh pulled off a series of vital interventions, underlining his status as one of the first names on the team sheet.
He was ably assisted by Chris Hewitt, Richard Thompson and the replacement Leahy – although it must be said that their task was undoubtedly helped by Chessington substituting Moorhouse on 62 minutes after he had looked the hosts’ biggest threat.
Two minutes after Moorhouse departed, Hassocks doubled their lead. Turner raced down the line, escaped the half hearted challenge of Moorhouse’s replacement Mohammed Cessay and saw his cross float in at the far post for his first goal in almost two years.
Leahy produced a brilliant block from a goal bound Steve Goddard effort, a moment which seemed to knock any remaining wind out of Chessington’s sails.
It was all Hassocks in the final 20 minutes as they began tormenting the United defence. Harding shot wide, Laing ran clear but messed up the finish and Antony Hibbert teased with a couple of close long rangers.
Chessington were finally put of their misery when Harding added a brilliant third on 89 minutes. He picked the ball up on the left, beat two men cutting inside and hammered a shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Brendan Leahy, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Marsh, Richard Thompson; Graham Beveridge, Stuart Faith, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Pat Harding.
Subs: Kieron Leahy (B Leahy 44), Chris Brown (Hibbert 66), Matt Robbins (Laing 86), Sam Fisk, Phil Wickwar (unused).
Starman: It can only be Pat Harding. Special mentions though to Ashley Marsh at the back and the hard working Stuart Faith in midfield, who also excelled.
