GAULT AND MILES PUT ON A FIVE STAR SECOND HALF PERFORMANCE
For the fifth time this season, Hassocks hit five or more goals as they hammered Sidley United 5-0, a scoreline you would have got long odds on when the teams went in at half time goalless.
The Robins missed a succession of chances in the opening 45 minutes before Phil Gault and Nathan Miles belatedly discovered their shooting boots to fire Mickey Jewell’s side to a convincing win.
Gault hit a hat-trick and Miles added the other two as Hassocks’ strike force underscored their position as the County League’s most in-form partnership.
Jewell had cut an increasingly frustrated figure throughout the first half as opportunity after opportunity went begging. He was a much more contented man after the final whistle however, saying, “I am very happy. We had a poor first half but after a few words, it was much better in the second half.”
Hassocks made one change from Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against Arundel. After playing out-of-position at centre half when the Mullets came to town, Spencer Slaughter was absent here with Kieran O’Callaghan dropping into defence and Anthony Hibbert returning in midfield.
The most gilt edged of those aforementioned first half chances fell to Dan Smith, Miles and Hibbert, at which point the home faithful could have been forgiven for thinking it was going to turn into one of those evenings for the Robins.
Gault though had other ideas and he gave Hassocks the lead just three minutes after the restart with an important goal.
The Robins’ talisman had passed 100 goals for the club in last week’s excellent win over East Preston and it is unlikely that his century includes a scrappier one than that which broke the deadlock against Sidley.
Gault’s initial shot was blocked on the line, leading to a bit of a scramble in which he eventually managed to poke him the rebound.
Lee Bryant nearly became an unlikely scorer of a second for Hassocks. A poor corner from the Robins was retrieved by the full back who produced a fierce shot from 30 yards that was tipped around the post spectacularly by Greg Nessling in the Sidley goal.
A minute after that Bryant effort and Hassocks did double their advantage with a stunning goal from Gault in complete contrast to his opener. He produced a series of keepy-ups with his back to goal before turning and firing a shot into the top left had corner which Nessling could only watch agog.
Hassocks’ first half struggles in front of goal were by now fading to a distant memory and it was threatening to turn into a rout when Gault wrapped up a 20 minute hat-trick shortly after. Nessling was at fault as he fumbled a Smith cross to leave Gault a tap in from close range.
The game was up at this point and Jewell took the opportunity to give game time to reserve team regulars Nathan Copper and Stuart Brown from the bench with 20 minutes remaining.
If Sidley were hoping that the changes would offer them a reprieve then they were quickly disappointed as Miles made it 4-0 on 76 when he was released, bore down on goal and managed to steer the ball around the advancing Nessling with impressive calmness.
Miles then rounded off the scoring and completed the nap hand with four minutes remaining. It was a similar goal to Hassocks’ fourth as the hosts won possession in midfield and worked it towards Miles who applied the finish.
Hassocks: Simon Lehkyj; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Kieran O’Callaghan, Lee Bryant; James Westlake, Anthony Hibbert, Elliott Butler, Nathan Miles; Dan Smith, Phil Gault.
Subs: Nathan Cooper (Smith 71), Stuart Brown (South 71), Luke Pawson (Bryant 79), Nick Pitcher, Andy Edwards (unused).
Starman: Phil Gault got the hat-trick and seemed to be everywhere at the right time when Hassocks were going forward.
