CROWS SPOIL THE PARTY AS ROBINS LOSE THEIR FIRST GAME AT NEW-LOOK NEST
Hassocks have clear designs on a top three finish in the County League this season and those ambitions could not have faced a much more testing start.
At the weekend, Dave John’s side passed their opening day challenge with flying colours, winning 2-0 at Arundel to pick up a first three points at Mill Road in 10 visits.
Tuesday night brought Crowborough Athletic to the Beacon. The Robins opened their magnificent new clubhouse for a league game for the first time but the Crows were in no mood to be obliging guests, running out 1-0 winners to underline their own title credentials and dampen the celebrations somewhat.
A wild evening of swirling wind and driving rain meant that most of the crowd were only too happy to spend their time basking in the modern facilities.
The clubhouse is the result of many years hard work by members and would not look out of place higher up the non league pyramid, should Hassocks ever have ambitions for promotion to the Ryman League.
That is clearly the aim for Crowborough. They arrived fresh form a hugely impressive 4-1 Norman Wingate Trophy win over last season’s County League title winners Eastbourne Town and few would argue with the programme note stating that whoever finishes above them this season could well succeed Town as champions.
Crowborough were quicker in thought and deed compared to their hosts but as home boss John said afterwards: “It was always tight and I was pleased the way we put them under a bit more pressure in the second half.”
Hassocks though never looked like scoring and so when they fell behind after only 11 minutes, they were always struggling.
The Robins only half cleared a set piece, leading to Wayne Clarke hitting a sweet drive from upwards of 35 yards that zipped past Joel Harding.
There were few attacking moments to get home fans excited in the first half, save for two free kicks squandered by Anthony Hibbert and one from Phil Gault in promising positions. For Crowborough, a fierce drive by Ross Treleaven was turned over acrobatically by Harding.
Hassocks tried to lift the tempo in the second half but too often their final pass let them down. Neither side was helped in their quests to play football by the amount of water pooling on the surface pitch as the rain showed no sign of relenting, leaving conditions farcical in places by the end.
Referee Ryan Ellis was right to keep things going, although he might have regretted that decision after landing himself with plenty of paperwork after flashing six bookings.
The Crows won that contest as well, earning four yellows to Hassocks’ two. Stuart Faith marked his first start of the season with a caution and he was joined in the book by Sam Fisk.
Hassocks did manage to force a couple of second half opportunities. Matt Amos made a mess of a half chance created by good work from Fisk and Matt Robbins. Robbins then forced Crowborough goalkeeper Mark Oldroyd into saving low down at his right hand post.
Amos’ tenacity earned the Robins a corner and the 18-year-old striker met the delivery with a near post header which was stopped close to the line.
Faith nearly shocked everyone when his piledriver from distance whistled inches over Oldroyd’s crossbar and Clarke went close again fairly late on after cutting inside and hitting a low shot into Harding’s side netting.
There was final chance for Hassocks when Mickey Turner delivered a dangerous cross but nobody in red getting remotely near it summed up the Robins’ evening really and left home supporters knowing it was not to be their night.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Brendan Leahy, Ashley Marsh, Pete Lear, Sam Fisk; Anthony Hibbert, Matt Robbins, Stuart Faith; Matt Amos, Phil Gault.
Subs: Mark Sheriff, Richard Thompson, Chris Hewitt, Logan Newington, Phil Wickwar (unused).
Starman: You couldn’t fault any Hassocks player for effort, but no-one did enough to stand out.
