Hassocks went out of the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday but with their heads held high after they were far from disgraced away to Blue Square South outfit Eastbourne Borough.
In truth, the Robins probably lacked a little bit of self belief at times and failed to seriously test home keeper Darren Potter all evening. But they never made it easy for their hosts from three divisions above despite going behind after only two minutes.
Without a win in three matches since the turn of the year, it was hardly the start the Robins would have wanted against an almost full strength Borough team currently sitting six points off a play-off place.
Hassocks felt there was a handball in the build-up before Grenada international striker Elliott Charles got in front of Robins’ captain Stuart Faith to nod in from eight yards out.
Borough could have been awarded a penalty just before the half-hour mark when James Walker ran on to a through ball and went down under challenge from Robins keeper Simon Lehkyj but referee Paul Saunders deemed the keeper got something on the ball.
The hosts nearly doubled their lead moments later when former Brighton and Hove Albion player Jamie Smith’s header was saved by Lehkyj and although home skipper Ollie Rowe converted the rebound from close range, the effort was disallowed by a linesman’s flag for offside.
That was just one of a string of fine stops over the course of the evening from Lehkyj, highlighting just what strength in depth Hassocks have in the goalkeeping position currently with Jack Simpson watching from the bench and James Plumley also expected to be challenging for a place soon after paternity leave.
Referee Saunders had to call it a night at half time after struggling with a calf strain and the whistle was taken up by senior linesman Darren Eaton. His traditional booking of Faith followed shortly afterwards.
The second half started much in the same vein for the hosts and after a string of wayward finishes, Charles eventually scored his second of the evening.
A strong Frankie Raymond run down the left hand flank left both Ashley Marsh and Elliott Butler in its wake before the ex-Reading midfielder drilled in a low cross which Charles side-footed home from six yards.
Charles proved a real handful for the visiting defence all night. He was quick and strong, with a decent first touch and showed just why he has netted four times in seven appearances since arriving at Priory Lane from Hendon.
But the Robins competed well despite never looking dangerous enough to peg back the deficit with the final score being a vast improvement on last time the two teams met in this competition when Borough – then in the Blue Square Premier – ran out 5-0 winners at the Beacon in 2007.
They now progress to the quarter-finals and a chance to go one further than they did in 2011 when losing 1-0 to Brighton and Hove Albion’s reserves in the final at The Amex.
Hassocks: Simon Lehkyj; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Elliott Butler; Anthony Hibbert, Nathan Cooper, Spencer Slaughter, Jamie Weston; Nathan Miles, Phil Gault.
Subs: James Westlake (Miles 65), Josh Hawkes (Cooper 70), Stuart Brown (Hibbert 84), Jack Simpson (unused).
Starman: Simon Lehkyj, pulled off some important saves to keep his side in the hunt.
