VASE DREAM ENDS IN HAMPSHIRE FOR 10 MAN ROBINS
Mickey Jewell tasted defeat for the first time as Hassocks manager, his side bowing out of the FA Vase at the first hurdle in disappointing fashion at Wessex League side Blackfield & Langley.
Despite some curious decisions from the officials, the Robins only had themselves to blame for not extending their unbeaten start to eight.
To complete a miserable afternoon, Andy Whittingham saw red and assistant manager Mark Dalgleish was so frustrated by the referee that he removed himself from the dugout to avoid a similar fate.
On a blustery day in Hampshire, Hassocks made the perfect start when they took the lead with only two minutes on the clock.
Sam Jeremiah gained possession on the right and his clever through ball played in Neil Kane, who beat advancing Blackfield goalkeeper Tom Hawkins with a deft finish.
Hassocks were ahead for all of two minutes. Jack Simpson failed to hold a delivery into his box which the wind picked up at the last minute, the ball eventually dropping to home captain Shaun Hughes who lashed home a powerful volley.
Jeremiah could have put the Robins back into the lead with eight minutes played. Chris Maynard held up play well on the left before feeding the overlapping Whittingham, whose dangerous cross was headed inches over the bar by Jeremiah.
Blackfield moved 2-1 ahead on 22 minutes when a long ball over the top caught Hassocks flatfooted. As the impressive Fuhad Hamadou ran clear, he was wrestled to the ground by Ashley Marsh. Hughes stepped up to confidently despatch the resulting penalty for his second of the game.
Marsh atoned for his part in that goal by playing a key role in the Robins’ second which arrived three minutes before the break.
The Hassocks skipper embarked on a mazy 60 yard from centre back with the ball at his feet, making it all the way into the Blackfield box before laying off to Spencer Slaughter who slammed home the equaliser.
Turning around level having defended the wind should have left Hassocks in a strong position to go on and win the game.
Unfortunately, they were not able to make as much of the conditions as Blackfield had, owing to some poor finishing and the upcoming early bath for Whittingham.
Phil Gault rattled the post after Kane had chased and pulled back a long ball forward from substitute Stuart Brown in Hassocks’ best opportunity of the second half.
The game turned though when Whittingham mistimed a challenge, instead producing a kung fu kick that connected with Bell.
Accidental it may have been, but Hassocks could not really have any complaints at losing their left back and having to face the final 15 minutes with only 10 men.
The mission now appeared to be digging in and holding onto the draw to secure a midweek Beacon replay. Blackfield clearly did not fancy a Tuesday night trek to Mid Sussex and it took them just four minutes after Whittingham’s dismissal to score what proved to be the winner.
Nobody in red was able to put a suitable challenge on Bell, leaving him to advance forward and slip in Neil Williams who beat Simpson one-on-one.
Hassocks had chances to find a third in the final five minutes. Gault played in Kane who dragged his effort wide with only Hawkins to beat.
Then with seconds of injury time remaining, Slaughter broke the offside trap when chasing another hopeful long ball over the top.
His low cross into the box somehow evaded Kane, Gault, Brown and the rest of the arriving cavalry to condemn Hassocks to Vase heartache.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Arni Kublickas, Ashley Marsh, Pete Lear, Andy Whittingham; Sam Jeremiah, Kieran O’Callaghan, Phil Gault, Spencer Slaughter, Chris Maynard; Neil Kane.
Subs: Stuart Brown (Jeremiah 55), Anthony Hibbert (Lear 70), Richard Thomas, Daley Clark, Hugo Whitehouse, Mike Abbott (unused).
Starman: Phil Gault drove the team in difficult circumstances.
