HASSOCKS TOO HOT TO HANDLE AT FREEZING COLD BEACON
Just four County League Division One games beat the cold snap which hit Sussex and despite the freezing conditions, Hassocks gave a performance which proved too hot for Pagham to handle.
Mickey Jewell’s side ran out 4-2 winners to lift them into fourth spot, level on points with their visitors in third but with a game in hand. Coming off the back of last week’s disappointing 3-1 defeat away at Sidley United, it was a much needed victory against of the sides who will no doubt be challenging at the top of the league come the end of the season.
It was Pagham who made the early running. Jack Simpson was called into action within the first five minutes, before plenty of spectators had braved leaving the warmth of the clubhouse to watch from pitch side.
Those who had ventured outside were treated to an excellent save from the young Hassocks goalkeeper as he turned a Scott Murfin effort around the post as it looked destined to nestle in the bottom corner. Shortly after and right back Rob South made a vital block from a James Temple effort after a deep cross from Murfin.
Hassocks gradually began to come into the game and they took the lead with 26 minutes played through an excellent goal from Dan Smith. The industrious Spencer Slaughter gained possession for the Robins in midfield and he fed Phil Gault who in turn found Smith.
There was still plenty for the striker to do 25 yards out from goal, but a clever stepover unbalanced one Pagham defender before Smith hit a sublime curling effort which Wes Hallett in the Lions goal could do nothing but watch bend into his top left corner.
Pagham responded well to that setback and they could have levelled things up within three minutes. Hassocks again had South to thank for coming to their rescue with another excellently timed block which diverted a Temple shot onto the crossbar rather than it hitting the back of Simpson’s net.
Neither South nor anybody else in red could do much about Pagham’s equaliser three minutes later as the Lions’ scored with a goal every bit as good as Smith’s.
Ashley Marsh was a little unfortunate to see his attempted clearance rebound off Darren Pearce and straight into the path of Michael Frangou who hit an emphatic volley past Simpson from outside the box without breaking stride.
Smith again played a huge part in putting Hassocks back into the lead before half time as he showed great strength to hold the ball up, followed by great awareness to play in the onrushing Slaughter who made no mistake in beating Hallett.
The next goal was now crucial. If it went Hassocks’ away, then it would be game over. If Pagham levelled things up for a second time, it would not have been a surprise to see them go on and win given the problems that Frangou and Murfin were causing.
It was a relief to the home support then when Gault made it 3-1 from the penalty spot, converting the kick that he himself had earned. Slaughter’s drive from distance had been partially blocked and as Gault attempted to pick up the pieces, he found himself tripped in the box leaving referee Nick Brown with no doubts.
Once again though, a Hassocks goal was quickly followed by a Pagham reply. This time, just three minutes separated Gault’s conversion and the Lions finding a way past Simpson.
It was a disappointing one to concede from a Hassocks point of view as they failed to deal with a ball to the far post. Temple was lurking and his volley back across goal found Frangou who had far too much time and space to pick his spot and beat Simpson with a well placed effort.
A tense finale looked in store but Anthony Hibbert had other ideas as he added the Robins’ fourth with 15 minutes left to play, a goal which effectively killed the tie off. Hassocks were perhaps a little lucky to be awarded a free kick 25 yards out from goal which Hibbert drilled through the wall and into the bottom corner.
Jewell gave late run outs to Dan Barnard and James Laing from the bench with Slaughter and Smith receiving well-deserved rests after being Hassocks’ best two players in an excellent all-round performance. Not many teams will score four past Pagham this season so for the Robins to do so with four different scorers represented an excellent afternoon’s work.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Pete Lear, Andy Whittingham; Anthony Hibbert, Kieran O’Callaghan, Phil Gault, Spencer Slaughter, Elliott Butler; Dan Smith.
Subs: Dan Barnard (Smith 76), James Laing (Slaughter 79), Jake Mills, Reece Wickwar (unused).
Starman: Dan Smith was rewarded for another hard working performance with a goal and assist.
