SUBS INSPIRE OUT-OF-SORT ROBINS TO SIXTH WIN IN A ROW
Twice in less than three weeks now Hassocks have not played particularly well against Crowborough Athletic and yet they have six points in the bank from the Crows.
It finished 2-1 at the Community Stadium, just as it had at the Beacon 17 days earlier as the Robins extended their winning streak to six in all competitions.
Mickey Jewell had described that previous success against Crowborough as being “not very pretty.” There was at least a little more entertainment this time around, although much of it was provided by a young Crows side who could consider themselves unlucky to come off at full time with nothing to show for their efforts.
What did for the hosts was youthful naivety. Their game management in the second 45 minutes was not the best after taking the lead on the stroke of half time.
And whilst Hassocks may have been strangely out of sorts, Jewell being able to call upon a bench of Dan Smith, Spencer Slaughter and Nathan Miles was telling.
Miles being named amongst the substitutes was one of two changes from the starting XI who had won a pulsating Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup third round tie 2-0 against East Grinstead Town on Friday night.
Phil Johnson took over from Miles in attack. Rob South was working away with Ben Palmer coming in at right back.
The first half was fairly even. Crowborough had the better chances and probably just about deserved the lead given to them by Tom Saunders with 44 minutes on the clock.
Anthony Hibbert is not exactly known for his aerial prowess although there was little he could do when a long ball out of defence from the Crows skimmed off his head.
Saunders took ruthless advantage, hitting a crisp finish from the angle which gave Jack Simpson no chance. Saunders had also scored for Crowborough at the Beacon.
Four minutes after the break and Phil Gault might have been better advised squaring to the unmarked Johnson instead of screwing a shot wide.
The cavalry began arriving from the 53rd minute onwards. First Jewell introduced Smith for Jamie Weston and went three up front. Then the industrious Slaughter replaced Hibbert in the middle of the park.
It did not take long for Slaughter to make his mark, playing a great diagonal ball to send Kieran O’Callaghan through one-on-one. The finish though was a poor one which Crowborough goalkeeper Ben Head had little trouble in keeping out.
Palmer headed just over from a Chris Maynard delivery followed by surprise all round when Ashley Marsh escaped punishment for bringing down Saunders just outside the box.
A yellow at the least seemed obvious – and would have been a very apt way for Marsh to mark his 300th appearance for the Robins – but referee Barrie Cox decreed the free kick enough. It was a let off.
The third and final Hassocks substitution was more forced than by design when skipper Stuart Faith went off injured just past the hour mark.
Jewell put Miles on into the front three, dropped Gault into midfield and O’Callaghan joined Marsh in the centre of defence. Hassocks now had all four of their strikers on the pitch in Johnson, Smith, Miles and Gault.
Yet despite all that firepower, the equaliser came via a set piece. Crowborough were unable to deal with the aerial threat posed by O’Callaghan and he rose highest to head home a James Westlake corner.
Credit to Crowborough, who were not content to settle for a draw. It was however their overexuberance which played a part in Hassocks finding their winner with eight minutes remaining.
The Crows overcommitted from a corner and when Marsh played a clever clearance towards Johnson, there was a mad rush of navy blue shirts attempting to chase back.
Hassocks did not give them a sniff of rescuing the situation. Johnson linked up with Smith in a lightning quick break that worked the ball to Miles.
The finish was exquisite, Miles scoring with the most delicate of chips dinked over the home goalkeeper from 12 yards out.
A fortunate victory for Hassocks, who would rightly respond by pointing to the old adage of the best sides winning even when they do not play well. And right now, the Robins cannot stop winning.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Ben Palmer, Stuart Faith, Ashley Marsh, Chris Maynard; James Westlake, Anthony Hibbert, Kieran O’Callaghan, Jamie Weston; Phil Johnson, Phil Gault.
Subs: Dan Smith (Weston 53), Spencer Slaughter (Hibbert 57), Nathan Miles (Faith 65).
