HAPPY MONDAYS AS ROBINS MAKE IT THREE WINS IN A ROW
Monday Night Football returned to the Beacon where Hassocks IIIs ran out 2-1 winners over Old Varndeanians to make it three wins in a row as their climb into the top half of the Mid Sussex Premier Division continued.
A tough game looked in store as the visitors arrived having dished out hammerings to two of the title favourites in their last two outings, beating Wisdom Sports 6-0 and Maresfield Village 4-1.
Hassocks though were given a boost on the morning of the game when Phil Wickwar pulled out through illness. That opened up a spot for Chris Maynard, who would be playing his first match since breaking his ankle during the first team’s FA Cup exit away at Sholing back in September.
Manager Steve Spies could hardly contain his delight at this stroke of luck. Speaking to the Mid Sussex Times before the game, Spiesy described Maynard for Wickwar as “a like for like replacement” before bursting into laughter.
Hassocks started brightly with the power of Spies and the pace of Logan Newington alongside him in attack causing plenty of problems.
The midfield trio of Adam Williams, Ben Holden and Maynard were bossing the game with Maynard doing a good impression of Elliott Butler in terms of the ground he was covering.
Hassocks had the first real chance of the game when the enigmatic Russell Harris skipped past a defender down the right but his finish was lacking. Spies then should have done better with a free header which appeared to slide off his bald head.
Old V’s recent scoring record speaks for itself and yet the Hassocks back three of Steve Hudson, Jack Farrall and Sam Franks kept the opposition quiet, coping admirably all evening with the threat.
The goal that Hassocks’ start deserved arrived from a nice passing move. The ball flowed from defence into midfield before an Elliott Butler-esque through ball from Maynard released Harris, whose cross picked out Williams to finish with aplomb.
Hassocks’ lead was short-lived as Old V’s were level within five minutes. Harris had a senior moment (fell over) to gift the visitors their only real chance of the first half, put away by left winger John Sewell.
Despite the setback, the Robins pressed on and should have had the game wrapped up by half time. Unfortunately, Spies and Newington contrived to miss every single opportunity which came their way.
One Beacon regular summed things up nicely when Newington was wasteful with his fourth good chance, shouting from the stand: “Don’t worry Logan, Spiesy would have missed all these anyway.”
Hassocks suffered a blow on 30 minutes when Maynard was replaced by Mark Darbyshire after taking a kick to the ankle.
It wasn’t a bad injury to Maynard but after such a long layoff it was decided to get him off as precaution. He also looked like he could do with a rest. Not something you ever hear said about Elliott Butler.
The second half was nowhere near as good from a Hassocks point-of-view and the back three needed to do more work than they had in the opening 45 minutes, assisted by Ashley Hayes working hard at left lung back.
Newington missed another great chance when his delicate chip beat both goalkeeper and crossbar and a Williams corner flashed across the goal but nobody could add the touch it needed.
Youth teamer Will Baker was introduced for the injured Newington, slotting in on the right as Harris was moved up front alongside Spies and told to make up for his earlier senior moment.
It was not long before he did. Some more neat approach play got the ball to Harris and he rounded the goalkeeper cool as you like to finish.
Hassocks introduced further fresh legs with another youth team player joining the action from the bench when Luke Pearce replaced the tiring Holden. Both Pearce and Baker acquitted themselves well in what was a difficult game to come into.
It was a third youth teamer who made sure of the three points for Hassocks, goalkeeper Reece Wickwar making two excellent saves in the final 10 minutes.
Hudson and Franks could not decide whether they should be picking up ball or man and in the end did neither, allowing Old V’s a clear run at goal. Thankfully, Wickwar stayed big and somehow managed to keep the effort out.
The game became incredibly stretched going into the last five and with V’s going all-out for a point, the visiting striker looked odds-on to score again until Wickwar pulled off another fantastic stop.
A great result and team performance from Hassocks, who make the short trip to Leylands Park this Saturday to face Lindfield.
Hassocks: Reece Wickwar; Russell Harris, Steve Hudson, Jack Farrall, Sam Franks, Ashley Hayes; Ben Holden, Adam Williams, Chris Maynard; Logan Newington, Steve Spies.
Subs: Mark Darbyshire (Maynard), Will Baker (Newington), Luke Pearce (Holden).
