RAGGED ROBINS BEATEN AS OAKWOOD BOOST THEIR SURVIVAL HOPES
Hassocks secured their Division One status a few weeks ago and at Tinsley Lane, they did their best to boost the slim survival hopes of hosts Oakwood with a lacklustre display that had a distinct end of season feel about it.
The Robins had plenty of chances but they took none of them on their way to a 1-0 defeat. It was all rather half-hearted from the visitors, who could at least point to a batch of absentees as a reason for their display.
Stuart Faith and the Simpson brothers all had cricketing commitments. Arni Kublickas missed out with a leg injury and Laurence Robinson was only well enough to sit on the benching having been struck down with tonsillitis, meaning Dave John had to shuffle his pack.
Dan Jacques was moved from his normal right wing back berth to play as one of three central defenders. Young Luke Akehurst took over on the right whilst Jack Simpson’s absence meant another starting opportunity in goal for Jason Gander.
An overhead kick as early as the 14th minute from Chris Williams settled the issue in Oakwood’s favour. Hassocks though could and should have scored at least once.
The normally reliable James Laing in particular rued a couple of missed opportunities which on another day he scores easily and the Robins take at least a share of the spoils.
Had Laing’s one-on-one effort after just eight minutes not been tipped around the post by Oakwood goalkeeper Anthony DiBernardo, then perhaps the game would have taken a different shape.
The hosts grew in confidence thanks to that save and Williams’ acrobatic effort six minutes later gave them a further lift.
After that, they were the sharper and hungrier team for most of the match, knowing that anything other than three points would see their relegation out of the top flight mathematically confirmed.
There was a frenetic start to proceedings. Nathan Pullen missed the first chance of the game when volleying wide from a good position after just three minutes.
Laing’s pivotal miss occurred five minutes later, followed swiftly by another chance for Pullen. This time, he was denied by a strong Sol Bowra block.
The goal arrived from a long Russ Wells throw, carried into the box by a strong wind. Hassocks allowed the ball to bounce a couple of times and Williams took full advantage, leaving Gander with no chance.
Oakwood fashioned some more good chances before the interval with the gale in their favour. Gander foiled Pullen, Williams missed a one-on-one after a mistake by Ashley Marsh let the Oakwood scorer in and Pullen should have done better when firing straight at Gander.
At the other end, Laing headed over following an enterprising run and cross down the left from Richard Thompson. Neil Kane then saw an effort blocked by some desperate Oakwood defending.
Hassocks found it much harder playing with the wind in the second half than Oakwood had in the first. That meant chances were at a premium in what was a pretty dour 45 minutes of football.
A rare moment of action came on the hour when the Robins thought they had equalised. DiBernardo came a long way in an attempt to claim Anthony Hibbert’s diagonal free kick, only to completely miss the ball.
That left Laing with a free header which he put towards goal. Somehow though, Wells hooked away from right under the cross bar to preserve Oakwood’s lead.
Kane shot at DiBernardo with a chance from the resulting corner and the home goalkeeper then made a scrambling save when Adam Williams tried his luck from distance.
Bowra cleared a Gerald Manville header off the line and Hibbert forced a fine diving stop from DiBernardo with a free kick after Kane was brought down on the edge of the area.
John threw on Robinson for the final 20 minutes in an attempt to find a way through but just like his teammates, the striker failed to make too much of an impact as Oakwood held on to secure three vital points.
Hassocks: Jason Gander; Luke Akehurst, Sol Bowra, Ashley Marsh, Dan Jacques, Richard Thompson; Adam Williams, Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Neil Kane.
Subs: Laurence Robinson (Laing 77), Louis Agnew (Williams 80), Arni Kublickas (unused).
Starman: Very hard choice but it goes to Jason Gander, whose handling was excellent on a difficult afternoon.
