FAITH AND GAULT DECIDE TURGID MID SUSSEX DERBY IN FAVOUR OF HASSOCKS
The eagerly-anticipated first ever Mid Sussex derby between Hassocks and St Francis Rangers failed to live up to expectations with the Robins doing just about enough to come out on top, winning 2-0 at the Beacon.
Seasoned derby watchers amongst a bumper crowd of 280 would not have been surprised. Games like these often struggle to match the hype because of the closeness and familiarity of the players involved.
That certainly seemed to be the case here with both sides seemingly more scared of losing than they were intent on winning.
Hopefully, derby day two or three times down the line will serve up a better treat more comparable to the clashes of a decade ago between Hassocks and Burgess Hill Town which have since taken on almost mythical status.
Home boss Dave John felt his side just shaded it through their experience and being physically stronger, particularly at the back.
Opposite number Danny Bryan agreed, but with the caveat that his side are learning every week in their first ever County League Division One campaign and that they were their own worst enemies in conceding two soft goals.
Still, Rangers sit one point short of Bryan’s Christmas target of 30, set at the start of campaign. He will now want to push on and reach the magic 40 mark as soon as possible.
That survival total is always John’s first priority, even though he is now comfortable enough to rate the Robins as top six material.
Hassocks had a gameplan to stifle Rangers playmaker Geoff Pitcher and cut off service to leading scorer Sam Jeremiah.
They were effective at that but the rest of their performance was below par compared to normal standards.
Winning when not playing particularly well is said to be the sign of a good team however, and that is what the Robins did on a Boxing Day morning with weather more akin to mid-Spring.
John felt Hassocks should have had a penalty as early as the first minute when Laurence Robinson was clipped when goal side.
In fairness to referee James Slaney, he was miles away from the incident as it came about via a huge punt out of defence from Ashley Marsh.
John also said Mr Slaney failed to let the game flow. That was true in the first half – and he would not be the first referee to let common sense go out the window when being assessed – but you could see after the break he was trying to allow play to continue as much as possible.
The problem being players from both sides were in determined mood to pick up a late Christmas card, reflected in five bookings. Rangers defenders Ben Palmer and Dan O’Farrell could have no complaints in particular.
Other than Robinson’s penalty shout, Rangers enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges until a goal out of the blue for Hassocks with 18 minutes played.
Elliott Butler failed to clear effectively from a Robins short corner routine, allowing Stuart Faith to come racing into the box and get the all-important touch to beat Simon Lehkyj via a slight deflection.
A strong Sam Fisk run ended with a shot that did not unduly test Lehkyj on 27 minutes. Soon after and Chris Maynard enjoyed a purple patch at the other end.
In the space of four minutes, he set up the lively Luke Leppard for one of Rangers’ only clear cut chances, crossed for Jeremiah to head over on the stretch and then hit the bar with a superb direct free kick.
A dubious free kick on the other side of the pitch followed which Pitcher tested Joel Harding from. Phil Gault then hit left the Rangers woodwork rattling after his half volley cross on the turn bent onto the bar.
Hassocks were improved after the break and began to show a little more going forward. Robinson and Gault both missed chances before the two were involved in the best untaken opportunity of the game.
Gault crossed brilliantly from the right and Robinson only needed to make contact in the centre of the goal. Unfortunately for Robinson, he completely missed the ball.
Rangers enjoyed a bright spell after the let off with Harding needing to show smart reactions to thwart Jeremiah after a neat turn.
For the second time in the game, Rangers managed to concede when on top as the Robins took advantage of some poor defending to kill the game off.
A gaping hole appeared in the visiting back line and that left Lehkyj badly exposed as he came out to challenge Robinson.
The Rangers goalkeeper looked the favourite to get there first and so he would have been disappointed to lose out to Robinson.
Credit though to the tall Hassocks striker for keeping a cool head and finding Gault who finished for a goal against his former club.
There was no way back for Rangers in the 17 minutes remaining, even as former Robins youth team captain Terry Gacias was introduced in a late attempt to fashion something.
The closest Gacias came against his old teammates was a well struck shot Harding did well to hold even if it were directly above the Hassocks goalkeeper’s head.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Sam Fisk, Pete Lear, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Richard Thompson; Matt Robbins, Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert; Laurence Robinson, Phil Gault.
Subs: Mickey Turner (used), James Laing, Ian Simpson, Jack Simpson (unused).
