NEW LOOK ROBINS GET THE JEWELL ERA UP AND RUNNING
Mickey Jewell began life in the Hassocks hotseat with a win as his new-look side overcame an early setback to defeat Selsey 2-1.
The Blues arrived at a wet and windy Beacon determined to spoil the party, taking the lead with less than 60 seconds played through Stuart Souter.
Despite that early setback, Hassocks stuck to their game plan, kept playing their football and were rewarded with goals from Chris Maynard – one of six debutants – and Sam Jeremiah.
Jewell has rung the changes over the summer alongside assistant manager Mark Dalgleish, himself a new arrival having left his post as Steyning Town boss to move to the Beacon.
Alongside ex-St Francis Rangers man Maynard, the new faces were goalkeeper Mike Abbott, right back Rob South, left back Andy Whttingham, midfielder Lee Waterhouse and striker Dan Smith.
Being beaten within a minute by Souter’s effort from 40 yards probably wasn’t the start that Abbott envisioned to his Hassocks career.
But the former Steyning number one was solid in the little that he had to do after that, displaying excellent handling given the greasy conditions.
Jewell tasked Smith with leading the line by himself and the young striker from Peacehaven & Telscombe underlined his raw talent with a performance that frequently threatened the Selsey backline.
South has come in from university football and Whittingham has followed Dalgleish and Abbott from the Shooting Field.
Both looked to get forward at every opportunity, operating almost as wingbacks at times despite Jewell fielding a 4-5-1 formation.
It was winger Waterhouse who really caught the eye though with an energetic display which featured some impressive runs, touches and a fine work rate.
Following Souter’s strike, the Robins knocked the ball about well on a lush surface. Smith had Hassocks’ first chances when he put a header over and he had a penalty appeal turned down after being tripped in the box.
Next came a blocked shot from the striker who was then on the end of some rough treatment from Selsey’s Marc Hinshelwood whose crude challenge earned a booking.
Hassocks’ equaliser arrived on 25 minutes and it was the result of another of those cavaliering runs forward from South.
His cross in looked like it was heading into the hands of Ryan Chard until the visiting goalkeeper completely missed it, leaving Maynard to open up his body at the back post and volley home.
Buoyed by that, Hassocks pushed on further and had a number of chances to take the lead before half time rolled around.
Spencer Slaughter missed the best of those, somehow spurning a gilt edged opportunity from six yards. Graham Morey hacked one off the line and the industrious Phil Gault and Anthony Hibbert both shot wide.
The second half followed much the same pattern. Smith, Hibbert twice and Gault all had efforts saved by Chard who also spectacularly denied Gault’s far post header from a Hibbert corner.
Jewell turned to his bench on the hour mark as Laurence Robinson and Jeremiah replaced Smith and Slaughter and it took Jeremiah just six minutes to get on the score sheet, glancing in a superb header from another Hibbert corner to put Hassocks ahead.
Chard did well to smoother a Jeremiah shot before Selsey started to threaten as the hosts tired and lost a little shape entering the final 10 minutes although Ashley Marsh and Kieran O’Callaghan dominated at the heart of the Hassocks defence.
Waterhouse nearly capped a fine debut with a goal but his shot after a mazy run was parried away by Chard as Hassocks secured the three points to give Jewell the perfect start.
Hassocks: Mike Abbott; Rob South, Kieran O’Callaghan, Ashley Marsh, Andy Whittingham; Lee Waterhouse, Anthony Hibbert, Phil Gault, Spencer Slaughter, Chris Maynard; Dan Smith.
Subs: Sam Jeremiah (Slaughter 60), Laurence Robinson (Smith 60), Daley Clark (Maynard 72), Pete Lear, Ollie Parsons (unused).
Starman: Plenty of candidates in a good team performance but it goes to Lee Waterhouse for an encouraging debut.
