Super sub Sheriff strikes late to deliver an early Christmas present
Forget the Grinch Who Stole Christmas – it was Hassocks doing the robbery as they snatched a 3-2 injury time win against Eastbourne United Association at the Beacon.
United were clearly the better side in the second half and looked the more likely winners after skipper Sheldon Snashall put them level at 2-2 seven minutes after the break.
But the Robins’ most experienced striker Mark Sheriff came off the bench late to deliver an early present for home fans, scoring with what was probably only his second touch as the clock ticked onto 92.
Sheriff had originally said he was unavailable to face United. When that changed, he was happy to be amongst the substitutes after Dave John explained he had already told new signing Phil Gault he would be pitched straight into the starting XI.
John has been tracking Gault for some time – the striker played in a pre-season friendly for Hassocks away at Horley Town before opting to recommit to St Francis Rangers – and his transfer came through just in time.
That meant his brace for Rangers on Saturday in their 4-2 defeat at Midhurst & Easebourne was his parting gift to them.
Gault did enough in this match to suggest John is right to be delighted with the signing, which gives him another option up front where hitherto they have been limited.
Summer capture Sheriff and the emergence of 17-year-old Matt Amos from the youth team have done a wonderful job filling the void left by Pat Harding’s move to Eastbourne Borough, but strength in depth is always the secret of a successful squad.
A thick fog rolled in off the Downs before kick off and although it made the first half a nightmare for spectators, those on the pitch felt it was just about playable.
Referee David Spain should therefore be commended for listening to both teams and John, who advised the official that any mist over the Beacon usually clears in time for the second half.
In the circumstances, other referees may have been tempted to postpone. Mr Spain though decided to go ahead, meaning another fixture rearranged for later in the campaign to go with all the games lost through the wet weather of November and December has been avoided.
John’s prediction of better vision once the opening 45 minutes were out of the way proved correct – and it was United who emerged the better outfit after the fog lifted.
Confusion reigned through the first half as to how Hassocks had scored their goals and who were the players on target. Both were eventually credited to Amos, although somewhat controversially by all accounts.
The opener came on 27 minutes when Pete Lear headed a corner towards goal and Amos applied the final touch on the goal line.
Hassocks led for all of nine minutes before Mark Warren nodded United back on level terms. Amos then claimed his and the Robins’ second goal five minutes before half time.
A free kick from Anthony Hibbert was headed back across goal by Lear. Spencer Slaughter latched onto the loose ball, firing off a shot which was about to give him his second senior goal.
Amos though had other ideas. Handily placed once again a couple of yards out, the teenager provided a final touch helping the ball in for his second so-called stolen goal in the space of 13 minutes.
Already, the teenager is showing the sort of ruthless streak and selfish dedication to scoring all the best strikers have.
The first act seen clearly thanks to the improved visibility of the second half was Snashall’s equaliser on 52 minutes, coming when a left wing corner fell to him in the six yard box.
Clearcut chances were at a premium after that, with the ones that did arrive mainly being for United. Nathan Crabb prodded inches wide when the Robins were undone through the middle.
Sam Crabb blazed over when Hassocks failed to deal effectively with a Snashall cross and Ben Billings was close with an enterprising effort from distance.
The nearest Hassocks came to retaking the lead was when Gault had a header cleared off the line after a bizarre game of head tennis broke out in the box.
Sheriff replaced Lear on 85 and the Robins were rewarded for the gamble of throwing on a striker for a centre back seven minutes later.
Hibbert did well to heed Sheriff’s call for a through ball and the diminutive striker dispatched in clinical style to secure an underserved three points.
John has been in football long enough to know such results are swings and roundabouts. So, whilst he accepted it was a fortunate win, he also pointed to the Robins’ scarcely deserved 5-1 defeat at Redhill on their previous league match and the 2-2 draw with United at the Oval in the game before that for the other side of the coin.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Pete Lear, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Marsh, Sam Fisk; Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert, Matt Robbins; Phil Gault, Matt Amos.
Subs: Stuart Faith (Robbins 45), Richard Thompson (Slaughter 74), Mark Sheriff (Lear 85).
