ROBINS FAIL TO SING AGAIN IN ANOTHER LEAGUE LOSS
The 2011-12 season isn’t going to plan so far for hapless Hassocks. Their 3-1 opening day win over Selsey promised much but since then, the Robins have picked up just one point from a possible 12.
That leaves them with a record which reads three defeats in five games, something that they need to turn around and fast if Mickey Jewell and his charges are to try and better last year’s highest ever finish of sixth in County League Division One.
This latest defeat came against a good East Grinstead Town outfit and even those who wear the most red-tinted glasses would have had to admit that it was a deserved three points for the Wasps.
A disappointed Jewell concurred with that view afterwards, saying, “We competed in the first half but didn’t in the second half when we were second best everywhere.”
“We lost our shape and structure and you could see that there is a severe lack of confidence running through the side with this run we’re on.”
Jewell attempted to shake things up by making three changes to the side who lost at title favourites Three Bridges on Bank Holiday Monday morning.
Jamie Weston, Kieran O’Callaghan and Elliott Butler were recalled with Lee Waterhouse, Stuart Faith and Andy Whittingham all missing out.
Grinstead came out of the blocks quickly and that seemed to startle Hassocks who found themselves trailing within eight minutes.
John Paul Collier was a real threat throughout with his set piece delivery and he set the tone for his afternoon when his free kick found Tom Lyons who turned and dispatched the ball into the top corner for his third goal of the season.
The Hassocks response was a good one. Straight from the restart and they almost levelled things up, Butler blasting comfortably wide with Nathan Miles then having an effort on goal blocked after good work down the flank by the pacy Phil Johnson.
Miles wouldn’t be denied for long and he tapped home the Hassocks equaliser with 18 played from close range after a Kieran O’Callaghan flick on.
Grinstead were incensed that the offside flag wasn’t raised against Miles but, as he so often does, it looked like the striker had timed his run to absolute perfection to anticipate the O’Callaghan winning the initial header.
Hassocks had further chances before the break which they failed to take while there was real concern surrounding Jack Simpson after the Robins’ number one required lengthy treatment after injuring his shoulder.
With no goalkeeper on the bench, Simpson continued but he was in visible pain when leaving the Beacon afterwards. Losing his number one is the last thing that Jewell needs in the midst of this current run of form.
Simpson pulled off a fine save to deny Kieran McCann early in the second half but there was little he could do when Grinstead retook the lead with 58 minutes gone.
Collier was the scorer this time rather than supplier, fizzing a shot towards goal which just crept inside the post beyond Simpson’s despairing dive.
It was comfortable for Grinstead after that. They finished well on top and perhaps should have added to the score but their neat approach play was let down by a wrong final ball or wasteful finishing.
One bright spot for Hassocks was the performance of young winger Ollie Parsons. He seemed to be the only player in red who worried the Wasps, injecting speed and crossing vision down the left after his half time introduction for Butler.
It’s that sort of bravery and confidence that Hassocks need going forward, especially with a potential banana skin waiting in the second round of the John O’Hara League Cup in three days time away at Division Two side Southwick.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; James Westlake, Matt Carruthers, Sam Goodridge, Chris Maynard; Jamie Weston, Kieran O’Callaghan, Phil Gault, Nathan Miles, Elliott Butler; Nathan Miles.
Subs: Ollie Parsons (Butler 46), Laurence Robinson (Miles 77), Stuart Brown (Maynard 89), Dan Jacques, Josh Hawkes (unused).
Starman: Ollie Parsons was a breath of fresh air when he came on.
