WASTEFUL ROBINS AVOID WESTFIELD TRIP WITH A WHOLE LOT OF MISSED CHANCES
Just how Hassocks failed to take their Sussex Senior Cup first round tie with East Preston into at least extra time is a mystery although sceptics in the home camp might point to the dubious reward for victory being a trip to Westfield.
Few will shed a tear over missing out on a midweek visit to the Parish Field in the next round as a result of this 3-2 defeat. By the end, the chances being missed by the Robins against their Division Two visitors became almost laughable and it is no exaggeration to say that Hassocks could have hit double figures.
EP were very grateful that Hassocks didn’t have their shooting boots on, given that they arrived at the Beacon off the back of an 8-0 FA Cup exit against Conference South leaders Dover Athletic three days earlier.
Dave John’s team selection hinted at a man who wasn’t particularly fussed by the competition either. Ian Simpson played the first 45 minutes as his return from injury steps up a gear and John also experimented with Michael Bates at right wing back in place of Dan Jacques.
Bates had a 20 minute cameo in the position for the first time with Saturday’s 3-0 win over Ringmer already sewn up. He certainly possesses the energy levels and determination needed to fulfil the role on a more regular basis and was involved in creating several of Hassocks’ many opportunities.
The Robins took the lead with just eight minutes played. Phil Gault and Spencer Slaughter shared a nice exchange of passes which ended with Slaughter testing EP goalkeeper Maciek Jason. Jason was equal to that but powerless to stop Gault sweeping home the rebound.
Based on appearance, Jason hardly resembled a County League goalkeeper. Looks can be deceiving though and if Hassocks did underestimate the EP number one, then they did so to their cost as his inspired display was nearly as much a reason for their defeat as wasteful finishing.
EP had a lively front pairing in Jay Huet and Terry Dodd with the sort of pace that sets alarm bells ringing in the Robins back line on a regular basis. Huet’s speed in particular caused real problems and he helped himself to two goals in 11 first half minutes to send the visitors into the break with the lead.
The equaliser on 26 was well taken as the ball fell to Huet on the edge of the box. His second 11 minutes later came when Joel Harding made a rare error of judgement, advancing miles from his line, a mistake which Huet duly punished.
EP were just about worth that half time advantage and five minutes into the second half, they made it 3-1. Dodd this time was the scorer when he got in behind the home defence, at which point it looked like the visitors were sailing through.
Hassocks duly woke up at that point, resulting in an immensely entertaining 40 minutes in which it was one way traffic towards Jason’s goal.
The speedy Neil Kane could have a hat-trick before he was hauled for James Laing on 78. Laing was only on the pitch for 12 minutes but he still had the time to pass up a treble of his own, such was the sustained pressure on EP.
Gault hit the exact same spot on the exact same post twice in the space of 120 seconds and Jason denied Anthony Hibbert, Terry Gacias, Slaughter, Bates and Arni Kublickas. Even Ashley Marsh – with one goal in over 200 appearances for the Robins – had a shot on target kept out.
The only time Hassocks managed to find a way through came on the hour mark when Jason copied Harding’s moment of madness with an ill-advised stroll from his line of his own. Gacias lobbed into the empty goal with aplomb for his first ever senior goal in Hassocks colours.
That left half an hour for the revitalised Robins to repair the damage, but it became apparent very quickly that it was going to be one of those nights, leaving EP to face the joys of Westfield away and Hassocks to wonder just how they only scored twice.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Michael Bates, Ian Simpson, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Arni Kublickas; Anthony Hibbert, Spencer Slaughter, Terry Gacias; Phil Gault, Neil Kane.
Subs: Sol Bowra (Simpson 45), James Laing (Kane 78), Dan Jacques (unused).
Starman: A few candidates but it goes to Stuart Faith.
