FAMILIAR FOES END UP PLAYING OUT A BORE DRAW
Those who turned out expecting an entertaining Friday night football encounter between two of the County League’s high flyers were ultimately left disappointed as Lancing and Hassocks shared a 0-0 draw at Culver Road.
Both these sides have their eyes on top four finishes this season but they seemed to cancel each other out with neither managing to fire on all cylinders despite the number of quality players involved.
Chances were at a premium, especially in a first half when there was barely a goalmouth incident of note.
Lancing edged possession in that opening 45 minutes and looked the slightly more dangerous before Hassocks became the better side after the break.
The Robins appeared the more likely winners as the game progressed but in the end, a goalless draw was no doubt the right result.
Amongst the intriguing subplots for a healthy crowd to tuck into was former Hassocks favourite Joel Harding lining up in goal for Lancing.
It was the first time since leaving the Beacon in 2010 bound for Burgess Hill Town that Harding had faced the club for whom he played 340 times after coming through the youth ranks .
Lancing this season resemble something of a Hillians old boys club. They finished the game with no less than eight former Burgess Hill players on the pitch, although in fairness a few of those had started off as youngsters with the Lancers, moved to Hill and then returned to Culver Road.
Harding, Kit Tregear, Danny Gainsford, Will Berry, Dan Turner and Darren Boswell all started, with Max Miller and George Fenton joining the action – or lack of it – in the second half.
The presence in the stands of ex-Hill boss Gary Croydon and former commercial manager Garry Newton simply enhanced the Leylands Park connection.
It was Tregear who went closest of anyone on the pitch to opening the scoring in the first half with an overhead kick from a corner.
Declan Lunn should also have done better when he twice got goal side of the Hassocks defence but he was unable to suitably trouble Simon Lehkyj.
As for the Robins, the best they could muster was a Jamie Weston free kick which was deflected over Harding’s cross bar.
After the break however it was Hassocks who looked more purposeful. Anthony Hibbert stole possession from Adam Hunt and advanced on goal, only to be denied by his brother-in-law Harding making a strong stop low down to his left.
Nathan Miles was also foiled by Harding saving with his legs from an angle which always favoured the goalkeeper.
Phil Gault then opted to selflessly try and set up Hibbert when he probably would have been better off trying to go for goal himself.
With chances at such a premium, it was surreal to see Ashley Marsh get a sight of goal. Marsh rather famously has scored only twice from over 300 appearances for the Robins and needless to say, he did not add to that tally here.
The introduction from the bench of Miller resulted in Lancing having their two clearest opportunities of the second half having been a non-entity in an attacking sense up to that point.
Lehkyj headed miles out of his area towards the left touchline to try and intercept a ball over the top but Miller got there first, rounding the now out of position Hassocks goalkeeper. The angle though was too tight to convert.
Miller’s next chance came when he outstripped Stuart Faith but Lehkyj stood up to deny the one-on-one opportunity.
There was also one excellent block from Rob South to thwart Turner after Miller delivered a fine cross from the right.
Whilst the crowd may have gone home disappointed, both Hassocks and Lancing had reasons to be pleased with the result.
For the Robins, it represented a solid point after drawing and losing their opening two games of the year. Lancing meanwhile extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Hassocks: Simon Lehkyj; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Elliott Butler; James Westlake, Nathan Cooper, Anthony Hibbert, Jamie Weston; Nathan Miles, Phil Gault.
Subs: Spencer Slaughter (Westlake 71), Kieran O’Callaghan, Luke Pawson, Jack Simpson (unused).
