BLOOD, SWEAT AND POSSIBLY TEARS… BUT NO RESULT FOR THE ROBINS
There was plenty of blood, a lot of sweat and Hassocks fans could have been forgiven for shedding a few tears following a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Shoreham.
The blood came courtesy of Pat Harding, who had to leave the field just before the break after suffering a badly cut head.
Hassocks patched up their 36-goal leading scorer and Harding bravely continued, even as he had to leave the field on two further occasions to staunch the flow of blood.
By full time, Harding had his head encased in layers of bandage so thick that it looked from a distance like he was wearing a crash helmet.
It was all in vain, however. Whilst nobody could fault the work rate of the Robins – the sweat – they just never got going against opponents below them in the table. Hence the disappointment.
Hassocks struggled to do anything really in an attacking sense during the first half. The closest the Robins came to testing former Burgess Hill Town goalkeeper Ronan Callaghan were with a couple of long distance efforts from Anthony Hibbert.
Shoreham could have taken the lead with seven on the clock. Chris Hibberd delivered a free kick towards Justin Simmons but he mishit a great chance wide.
The Musselmen were one of the biggest sides seen at the Beacon so far this season and Hassocks never really got to grips with the height or physicality of their visitors.
Nothing summed that up better than the only goal of the game which arrived just before the quarter of an hour mark.
The Robins were badly caught out when Ben Boiling crossed into the box and Tom Levitt had been left totally free to produce a looping header which gave Joel Harding no chance.
Already without combative captain Chris Hewitt, Hassocks’ cause was not helped when another one of their battlers, Chris Brown, limped off clutching his hamstring on 25 minutes.
Richard Thompson came on at left wing back with Ian Dawson moving into the middle of the park. Brown’s bite was sorely missed whilst Hassocks’ other outfield options from the bench were restricted to Under 18s players Sam Fisk and Matt Amos.
The Robins did at least perk up after the break, even as Shoreham had the first meaningful effort of the second half. That fell to Aaron Macmillan, who warmed Harding’s fingers with fierce drive from a long way out.
Harding next had to be alert to race a long way from his goal, showing a great turn of foot to head clear when Levitt threatened to get on the end of a huge clearance from Dan Jordan.
Hassocks forged their best chance of the game on 63 minutes. Great work down the right from the evergreen Mickey Turner saw the ball run to Richard Thomas.
Callaghan was for some reason stranded on the edge of the box, leaving an empty net for Thomas to aim at. The young striker’s effort was on target but lacked the required pace, enabling Danny Gainsford to race back and hook off the line.
Referee David Spain showed the game’s sole booking with five minutes remaining to Stuart Faith. It was a decision which infuriated Hassocks boss Dave John, who felt Mr Spain had let a number of far worse offences than Faith’s relatively minor foul go without punishment.
John did have a point, especially when it came to a deliberate handball from a guilty Shoreham party engineered for no other reason than to try and cheat a way to a goal.
The injustice dished out to Faith lit a late fire under the Robins and they were able to create one more good opportunity with time running out. Harding linked up well with Turner but the latter’s effort drifted well wide.
An afternoon to forget in the end for the Robins, whose hectic schedule through February looks like it is catching up with them.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Stuart Faith, Ashley Marsh, Brendan Leahy, Ian Dawson; Anthony Hibbert, Chris Brown, Graham Beveridge; Richard Thomas, Pat Harding.
Subs: Richard Thompson (Brown 25), Sam Fisk, Matt Amos, Phil Wickwar (used),
Starman: Pat Harding looked dangerous… especially in the headgear.
