Hassocks defeated Seaford Town to move into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup, but this was a lot closer than the final score of 4-1 would suggest.
Proceedings were level at 1-1 with as late as the 80th minute with extra time looking certain before the Robins belatedly showed the class that has taken them up to the dizzy heights of third in Sussex County League Division One to put away their lower division visitors.
While Hassocks’ performance wasn’t one becoming of a side sitting so pretty in the top flight, Seaford’s also defied their lowly position towards the foot of Division Two.
If they can perform as they did at the Beacon when their league campaign resumes, it surely won’t be long before they begin climbing the table.
Hassocks boss Dave John was under no illusions at full time, saying, “The result was a bit flattering as we didn’t actually play that well – the only difference between the two sides really was our finishing.”
The Robins came into the tie in good spirits having defeated Littlehampton Town 5-0 the previous week and John made just one change as Matt Robbins returned in midfield at the expense of Spencer Slaughter.
Anthony Hibbert’s eighth goal of the season gave Hassocks a dream start to the tie as the hosts took the lead with just eight minutes played.
Chris Brown made a rare raid from the sanctuary of central midfield to break down the right and his pull back found Hibbert who fired home low across the Town goalkeeper.
Seaford didn’t seem unduly effected by that early setback and they instantly went on the attack in search of an equaliser, Adam Kneller hitting a looping half volley that looked like it might have the back-pedalling Joel Harding in trouble. Luckily for Hassocks, it dropped inches over the crossbar.
Town continued to pile on the pressure but that almost played into Hassocks’ hand as they looked dangerous on the break, the tireless running of Mark Sheriff fashioning a couple of chances including one driven cross which somehow eluded a mass of red shirts gathered in the box.
Hassocks held onto their lead until the break but the second half began disastrously for them. First, Sheriff hobbled off on 47 minutes after aggravating an ankle injury which necessitated a reshuffle as Slaughter came on and Robbins was pushed up front alongside Matt Amos.
Then on 52 minutes Seaford grabbed an equaliser. Home captain Chris Hewitt had an unfortunate slip which allowed Ben Dartnell to pounce and release Liam Keefe who nudged the ball past the onrushing Harding.
Hassocks nearly responded immediately when Amos stroke an instinctive volley inches wide of the post with the goalkeeper routed to the spot.
That proved to be the catalyst for a lull in proceedings as with the game in the balance, neither side wanted to take the risks needed to win the tie which led many of the crowd to assume that an additional 30 minutes was a formality.
They hadn’t reckoned on a combination of a soft free kick award from referee James Slaney and a piece of magic from Hibbert. The set piece was awarded right on the edge of the box and Hibbert, who had been anonymous since his early goal, strode up and nonchalantly stroked the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
“I didn’t think he had his best game but you know that he’s always capable of a moment of class like that,” John said of his midfielder afterwards.
Seaford poured forward after that in search of a second equaliser but a succession of corners came to nothing as the game ticked into the 90th minute with Hassocks still one ahead.
And in a frantic period on injury time the Robins netted twice more to add some gloss to the score line as 17-year-old Amos netted his first brace for the club by neatly finishing off two free-flowing counter attacks to add a little gleam to a hard-fought victory.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Pete Lear, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Marsh, Sam Fisk; Matt Robbins, Chris Brown, Anthony Hibbert; Mark Sheriff, Matt Amos.
Subs: Spencer Slaughter (Sheriff 47), Martin Woods, Ian Simpson (unused).
Starman: Matt Amos was a livewire presence throughout and ended the game with two well taken goals.
