GAP IN CLASS AS HASSOCKS ARE HOUNDED BY THE CHAMPIONS
The reigning Sussex County League champions showed their class at the Beacon as Eastbourne United Association ran out worthy 3-1 winners to underline their position as favourites to retain the title.
Hassocks came into the game knowing that victory could lift them into the dizzy heights of third in the early Division One table. By full time, the Robins were in no doubt about the sort of quality it takes to put in a sustained challenge at the top of the league.
They gamely tried to match their visitors in the footballing stakes but United had the edge everywhere, especially in midfield. Terry Gacias, Anthony Hibbert and Michael Bates worked tirelessly all afternoon but they still couldn’t get close to their slick opponents.
The writing was on the wall as early as the second minute, when only a desperate goal line clearance from Gacias prevented Steve Dallaway giving United the lead. A midfielder being the furthest man back to make such an intervention set the tone as Hassocks were rarely able to break out of their own half during the opening 45 minutes.
One rare occasion that they did came with nine on the clock. Gacias was again at the centre of the action, his curling effort from 25 yards being brilliantly tipped around the post at full stretch by Adam Sargeant.
That served as a reminder to United that the Robins could cause problems. The visitors duly responded by stepping up a gear.
Brad Manton lobbed wastefully over when he was in one-on-one with only Joel Harding to beat. Pete Lear – replacing Sol Bowra in Hassocks’ only change from the midweek draw with Three Bridges – and Stuart Faith both had to make strong blocks from Lucas Mann and Tom Morton was off target with a difficult volley.
Ben Billings had been a lively presence and he fashioned two chances for himself in quick succession, driving one over and then forcing Harding into a fine sprawling save.
Phil Gault had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Boris Erguven. The United defence then found themselves in a bit of a mess as Ashley Marsh led a Hassocks break from the back to slip in Bates. The young midfielder’s attempted lob went way over the bar.
United finally took the lead that they had been threatening with two minutes of the first half remaining. Manton was the scorer, applying the final touch to a fine passing move involving Manton and former Robin, James McKenzie.
Six minutes into the second half and United made it two. For all their pretty football, it was an utterly bizarre goal which left both sets of players and supporters scratching their heads. A speculative punt from the halfway line from Lee Jules somehow ended up deflecting off both Arni Kublickas and Gault before the bounce deceived Harding, carrying the ball into the back of the net.
Nobody seemed entirely sure what had happened. Hassocks though reacted well and within a minute they were back in the game. Sargeant could only parry a Hibbert effort and Gault was on hand to tap in the rebound for his first goal since re-joining the Robins from St Francis Rangers.
That goal seemed to shock United and Hassocks had the champions on the back foot in an excellent 15 minute spell. Gault’s header drew another superb tip over from Sargeant. Gault then dragged a shot badly wide after being played through one-on-one by Gacias.
The Robins really needed to make a chance stick and when Gacias’ 25 yarder whistled just over, you sensed that their final opportunity to equalise was gone. United had weathered the storm and they went onto seal their victory when McKenzine struck on 86 minutes.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Dan Jacques, Pete Lear, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Arni Kublickas; Terry Gacias, Michael Bates, Anthony Hibbert; Phil Gault, Neil Kane.
Subs: Phil Johnson, Daley Clark, Danny Geard (unused).
Starman: Phil Gault.
