MILES PROVIDES THE MAGIC FROM TO GRAB HASSOCKS A POINT
Young super sub Nathan Miles was the Hassocks hero as the teenage striker came off the substitutes bench to earn the Robins a 3-3 draw with Crawley Down in just 13 minutes on the pitch.
Miles had just entered the action in place of James Laing when Joel Harding’s clearance was returned through the middle and former Burgess Hill striker Nick Sullivan beat the perplexed keeper to put Down 3-1 ahead and cruising to victory.
That was in the 78th minute. In the 82nd minute, Miles was pulled down in the box by Jahmal King and Anthony Hibbert converted the resulting spot kick, his second of the afternoon. In the 84th minute, Miles then went racing through to lift the ball over Down goalkeeper Shayne Goldmsith to complete a magnificent Hassocks turnaround.
On the balance of play, it was a fortunate point for the Robins. Dave John, back in the dugout after being laid low with flu over Christmas and the New Year, said afterwards that any point from 3-1 down is a good one. He also reserved special praise for Miles, who has been knocking on the door of the first team for some time now.
The recent wet weather meant that this was Hassocks’ first action in three weeks. Despite the heavy rain, the Beacon pitch was in excellent condition thanks to the heavy investment that the Robins committee have sunk into their facilities over the last few years.
Four of the goals arrived in the second half and yet bizarrely, it was the first which was the better to watch in terms of quality. Both sides tried to play football, there was a lively tempo and plenty of competitive edge.
It could have been 2-2 inside the first 10 minutes. Hassocks were first to threaten when Phil Gault drew an excellent save from Goldsmith. From the resulting corner, both Sol Bowra and Gault had chances before Spencer Slaughter hit a shot just wide.
Down soon proved they could pose a threat when skipper Tony Reid had his header from Nick Sullivan’s cross turned aside by Harding, who then did superbly three minutes later to deny Aaron Watson.
Hassocks skipper Ashley Marsh misjudged a long ball and although Dan Jacques did well to hold up Watson, the visiting midfielder looked as if he had rounded Harding before the keeper miraculously grabbed the ball from Watson’s toe as the visiting forward was about to pull the trigger.
The Robins went a little flat after that and it was no surprise when Down took the lead on 25 minutes. Harding came for Dan Sullivan’s cross, but he was beaten to it by Reid who crashed a header into the unguarded net.
Hassocks responded well to going behind and Stuart Faith nearly marked his return from seven weeks out with a goal, putting a near post header just over the bar from a corner needlessly conceded by Goldsmith.
Faith’s miss hardly mattered four minutes later though when referee Paul Burton spotted the hand of the hapless King blocking a Hassocks shot in the box. Mr Burton pointed to the spot and the hosts had their first penalty which Hibbert powerfully despatched, although Goldsmith did well to get a hand on it.
From then until half time, Hassocks were much the better side. Slaughter did brilliantly to set up Laing whose shot cannoned off the underside of the bar. Slaughter then put a good chance wide after Matt Beeston made a mess of a clearance.
Down dominated the second half as Hassocks failed to get going until Miles’ introduction. The home defence was carved open on 65 minutes as Reid notched a well taken and deserved second goal. Harding denied him a hat-trick with another fine stop before Down did get their third through Sullivan.
It looked like curtains for the home side but Miles had other ideas, his late turn delivering his first senior goal and a valuable point for the Robins to leave Down wondering how they had let the game get away.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Dan Jacques, Sol Bowra, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Arni Kublickas; Daley Clark, Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Phil Gault.
Subs: Nathan Miles (Laing 77), Richard Thompson, Michael Bates, Neil Kane, Jack Simpson (unused).
Starman: Phil Gault was lively and Spencer Slaughter, as always, worked his socks off but it goes to Stuart Faith, such a key figure for Hassocks.
