ROBINS WARM UP FOR BIG SEMI BY LEAVING SELSEY BLUE
Clues as to what might happen when Hassocks and Selsey meet in the semi finals of the Sussex RUR Charity Cup were in short supply in the Division One clash between the sides at the High Street Ground.
A strong wind blowing down the pitch made this a bizarre afternoon bearing little relevance to next month’s fixture at Culver Road, where the Robins will be looking to make it through to a senior final for the first time in their history.
At half time there can be no doubt that Selsey regretted their decision after winning the toss to defend the elements in the opening 45 minutes as they turned around 5-0 behind and with virtually all hope gone.
The Blues did score two second half goals with the wind in their favour to add a degree of respectability to a result which reflected Hassocks’ challenge for a top four position and Selsey’s place in lower mid table.
Mickey Jewell and his players will be left hoping that the next time they cross swords with the Blues goes equally to form.
There was an early indication of what was to come when James Westlake whipped in a fifth minute cross which the gale made far more dangerous than it would otherwise have been. Jamie Weston nearly took advantage, producing a great on-target shot well saved by the Selsey goalkeeper.
Westlake and Rob South were to excel down the right flank. South showed a fantastic work ethic to frequently overlap in the first half as Hassocks looked to sew the game up with conditions in their favour.
After the break, it was Westlake’s turn to help out his teammate defensively when the Robins did a fine job of restricting the Blues to few chances.
Westlake provided the opening goal for Nathan Miles on 15 minutes and Hassocks had to wait less than 60 seconds to double their advantage as they scored straight from the restart.
Possession was won back immediately from Selsey as they kicked off and a lightning break forward launched.
Anthony Hibbert drifted into a wide position and his low cross was superbly turned in by Phil Gault, somehow finding a couple of yards of space despite the presence of a glut of blue shirts in the box.
Selsey were next undone by trying to play out from the back as the Robins made it 3-0 with 25 minutes on the clock.
Miles seized on a sloppy pass and showed commendable determination to stay on his feet despite a couple of rough tackles from two home defenders desperately trying to retrieve the situation. Once Miles had seen off the attention, he finished clinically for his second of the afternoon.
Free kick specialist Chris Maynard came up with the fourth on 39 minutes. Maynard had already gone close with a couple of distance efforts caught by the gale.
It proved to be third time lucky when his vicious strike with bend and curl was blown all over the place to fly into the back of the net despite the home custodian getting a strong hand to it.
Then on the stroke of half time another free kick by Maynard appeared to be heading in before Gault made sure by making contact with his knee from three yards.
Gault now had the brace which had very much looked like it would belong to Maynard. Oh to have been a witness to the conversation in that car during the long journey back to Mid Sussex afterwards!
Even though Selsey had the prospect of the wind at their backs for the second half, hopes could not have been high in the Blues dressing room given their home record.
Selsey have won just three of 12 matches at the High Street Ground so far with goals particularly hard to come by. The two they put past Jack Simpson extended their total to only 16 in front of their own fans.
Hassocks were unhappy when the Blues were awarded a disputed corner early in the second half and their mood did not impress when Daniel Heggarty bundled home from it to pull one back.
Selsey did their best to apply a fair amount of pressure but the Robins had learnt from the mistakes made by their hosts defending the conditions.
Whereas the Blues had sat deep, Hassocks played with a much higher line to condense the play into midfield.
Any balls Selsey attempted to play behind the Robins defence ended up carried through to Simpson, operating with confidence ad a sweeper-keeper.
Graham Bush did manage to reduce the deficit further but Hassocks were largely untroubled. The only concern for Jewell would have been losing Nathan Cooper to a knock.
His place was taken by the speedy Phil Johnson, who should have been afforded better protection by the officials as he became the victim of several fouls which went unpunished.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Chris Maynard; James Westlake, Nathan Cooper, Anthony Hibbert, Jamie Weston; Nathan Miles, Phil Gault.
Subs: Phil Johnson (Cooper), Luke Pearce (Miles), Rowan Wallis (Hibbert).
Starman: Right back Rob South for his fantastic work ethic.
