REARGUARD ACTION EARNS HASSOCKS A POINT AGAINST LIVELY LOBSTERS
The Beacon is fast becoming the go-to place for entertainment in the Sussex County League this season. Three days after Hassocks shared eight goals with big-spending Whitehawk in a spirited 5-3 defeat, an outstanding Redhill side came to Mid Sussex and were held to a 2-2 draw.
This was an excellent point for the Robins. Redhill were lively, pacy and skilful, arguably the best side Hassocks have come up against this season. The home defence had to repel wave after wave of attacks, particularly in the second half.
It was a terrific rear guard display from Hassocks and they could have even snatched a winner in stoppage time when Redhill goalkeeper Chris May denied Arni Kublickas with an excellent one-on-one save.
That would have been harsh on the visitors, who were left cursing Joel Harding for another inspired display of shot stopping. The Robins number one denied the excellent Josh Bonnett twice and saved well from both Leon Dussard and Calvin Headley. Bonnet also hit a post.
Terry Gacias cleared an Aliy Kyezu header off the line before Gacias’ evening came to an early end with just 15 minutes played thanks to a recurrence of the hamstring injury which saw him sit out the weekend clash with Whitehawk.
James Laing took over with Phil Gault – another notable absentee from the Hawks defeat with injury – dropping back into midfield. Gault had initially replaced Laing in the starting line up, joining Neil Kane up top. Dave John made one other change, Ian Simpson coming in for Sol Bowra who had suffered such a testing time at the hands of Wes Tate.
Kane continued his rich vein of recent form by giving Hassocks the lead with 16 minutes played. Spencer Slaughter was the architect, embarking on a powerful and marauding run from the edge of his own box to tee up Kane for the striker’s seventh of the campaign.
Slaughter was involved at the other end when Redhill equalised after being deemed to have tripped Bonnett in the box. The Lobsters player went down like the latest victim of the Jack and Jill Sniper, sparking a huge melee in which Dussard, Slaughter, Ashley Marsh and May were all carded.
Quite why May felt the need to rush 90 yards up the pitch to get involved was anybody’s guess. It certainly seemed to divert the referee’s attention from the fact that Dussard had raised his hands to Marsh and he was fortuitous not to be shown a red card.
Headley kept a cool head after all that commotion to tuck the penalty away and so with four minutes left of the first half to play, the sides were level.
Four minutes the other side of the interval and Redhill took the lead. Full back Asher Hudson came charging forward from defence and combined with Chris Hubbard in a neat interchange of passes before beating Harding from close range.
Redhill were not ahead for long. Within 10 minutes, Simpson turned defence into attack with a fine pass which Laing latched onto to fire Hassocks level.
From that point on, Redhill pushed forward and Hassocks were defending with their lives. Harding saved at the feet of Bonnet, Dan Jacques and Stuart Faith both put in great blocks in the six yard box and Harding parried away an effort from Marcus Elliott.
The Robins were able to muster a couple of counter attacks to break the Redhill pressure. Gault crossed for Jacques but his volley at the back post was well wide and Hassocks thought they had a penalty when Charles Ofusuhene handled in the area, only for the referee to adjudge that Kane had pushed the defender into the ball.
Then came that final chance right at the death. Daley Clark, playing in a deeper role than he has been used in so far since his summer arrival from Lingfield, threaded Kublickas in down the left.
The Beacon held its breath but despite the fact that Kublickas connected well, May was equal to his effort, keeping the young Hassocks wing back’s effort out with his body, ensuring it finished honours even after another excellent 90 minutes of entertainment.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Dan Jacques, Ian Simpson, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Arni Kublickas; Terry Gacias, Spencer Slaughter, Michael Bates; Phil Gault, Neil Kane.
Subs: James Laing (Gacias 15), Daley Clark (Bates 74), Sol Bowra, Jason Gander (unused).
Starman: When a team puts as much effort would be unfair to pinpoint one person, so a team award is justified.
