HARDING THE HERO FOR HASSOCKS AS THEY DRAW WITH 10 MAN CROWS
Joel Harding was the Hassocks hero as his stunning penalty save with 12 minutes remaining ensured that the Robins avoided the ignominy of becoming the first side to lose in the league so far this season against Crowborough Athletic.
The Crows have had a real tough time of it following their relegation from the Ryman League at the end of the previous campaign. They are yet to win back in Division One and given Hassocks have picked up seven points already on the road, Dave John and his side would have headed east targeting another three for their collection.
Hassocks had ample opportunity to claim them. The Robins missed a succession of chances, particularly in the first half. In the second, they played for 35 minutes against 10 men following the dismissal of Crowborough substitute Chris Ransome.
But despite all that, it was Harding who Hassocks were indebted too for ensuring the game finished 0-0. Dave Adams stepped up from 12 yards in the 78th minute after the Robins conceded a cheap spot kick but Harding was equal to it, throwing himself full stretch to keep the effort out.
Hassocks boss Dave John was no doubt relieved. More troubling than his side’s failure to beat the division’s bottom side despite having a numerical advantage would have been the sight of two more of his players leaving the Crowborough Community Stadium with injuries, further decimating his already sparse options.
Spencer Slaughter failed to return after half time and Daley Clark limped off five minutes into the second half. Michael Bates made his first appearance of the campaign in place of Slaughter while James Laing took over from Clark in attack. John had also handed first starts to Dan Jacques on his return from injury and Pete Lear who, like Bates, missed the majority of last season.
Clark’s withdrawal was particularly frustrating as up until that point, he was probably having his best game in a Hassocks shirt so far. Both he and strike partner Neil Kane were lively in a first half in which Hassocks dominated, the only thing letting down the Robins’ front two being a lack of composure in front of goal. Clark had the first opportunity when he was played in by Kane, only to delay his effort a little too long to allow Chris Smith to get back and clear.
Slaughter’s excellent volley on 26 minutes drew an equally good save from Rob Gordon in the Crowborough goal. Arni Kublickas, showing his versatility by switching from right wing back to take over from the unavailable Richard Thompson on the left, then came rampaging forward to crash a shot into the side netting.
Crowborough had their first chance on 41 minutes when full back Luke Leppard hit the top of the bar with a wild cross that caught Harding out and right on the stroke of half time, Kane found himself clear from Anthony Hibbet’s through ball but his attempted lob went wide of the post.
The lively Tom Saunders tested Harding early in the second half before the home side were reduced to 10 men on 55 minutes. Ransome had cut a combative figure since his introduction from the bench which ultimately culminated in a completely unnecessary stamp on Stuart Faith, leaving the referee no option but to issue a second yellow.
Ransome’s red seemed to spur Crowborough on and Hassocks were never quite able to establish the foothold on the game that they had enjoyed in the first half. The Crows hit Harding’s cross bar again and after Harding pushed away Adams’ penalty, the hosts missed two further good chances before the full time whistle.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Dan Jacques, Pete Lear, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Arni Kublickas; Terry Gacias, Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert; Daley Clark, Neil Kane.
Subs: Michael Bates (Slaughter 45), James Laing (Clark 50), Martin Woods (unused).
