GAULT GOAL SENDS ROBINS FLYING THROUGH FEISTY FA CUP TIE
Phil Gault sent Hassocks into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup via a highly contentious free kick which secured a 1-0 win over Dorking Wanderers at the Beacon.
Gault struck on 18 minutes, the only goal the Robins and their fellow Sussex County League Division One side could muster between them across 180 minutes covering the original tie and replay.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Westhumble Playing Fields had been a feisty affair summarised by the straight red card shown to Wanderers’ Jerome Beccles in the first half for an off the ball incident.
Remarkably, Beccles could have been dismissed here too. He drew blood from Hassocks’ combative midfielder Mark Price, yet somehow escaped without punishment.
Flashpoints frequently broke out and Price was heavily involved, mainly as the victim. Referee Craig Robson had his work cut out trying to keep order.
Come full time, it was something of a surprise that Mr Robson had only meted out three bookings. Two went to visiting players with the mercurial Jamie Hillwood being the Hassocks villain.
The Robins were without regulars Ashley Marsh, Anthony Hibbert and Nathan Miles. Phil Johnson returned in place of Miles, whilst Mickey Jewell further shuffled his pack by handing Tom Davess a rare start at left back in place of the rested Chris Maynard.
Davess and Hillwood dovetailed nicely down the left, including when the latter cut inside and went to ground under a challenge to earn Hassocks the free kick from which their goal arrived.
Dorking were aggrieved at what they felt was a very soft decision from Mr Robson. Their humour was hardly helped when Gault drove the ball low and hard through the wall for his sixth goal in five appearances so far this season.
Wanderers produced the better football after falling behind but for all their pretty passes and keeping of possession, they never really committed enough men forward.
Jack Simpson certainly had a much quieter evening than he might have expected, given how worked he was by Dorking whilst it was 11 versus 11 at the weekend.
The highlight of Simpson’s Saturday afternoon was a stunning save from Tom Tolfrey after only 10 minutes
Tolfrey was marked out of the game on this occasion by the Robins’ centre back pairing of Nick Pitcher and Kieran O’Callaghan.
Rather than Wanderers trying to force an equaliser in the final 15 minutes, it was actually Hassocks who with the better chances to make the game safe.
Last season’s Young Player of the Year Aaron Czech had not long been introduced in place of Johnson when Hillwood put him through on goal.
The angle made it a difficult one-on-one but Czech produced an accomplished finish and was desperately unlucky to see the ball hit the outside of the post.
Hillwood should have then capped his man-of-the-match performance with the goal it deserved when gifted a free header from an astute Nathan Cooper free kick. Hillwood through nodded wide.
Not that it mattered. Hassocks bank a useful cheque for nearly £2,000 and now have a home tie against Ryman Division One South outfit Chipstead at the Beacon on Saturday 14th September to look forward to.
Although Chipstead are from a league above, the Robins will fancy their chances of causing an upset and moving a step closer to emulating their best ever run in the competition.
That came in the 2001-02 campaign, reaching the third qualifying round and bowing out to Lewes. The Rooks went onto travel to Stoke City just two games later in the first round proper.
A similar run this season would earn Hassocks almost £10,000. It may be a little inappropriate to narrow it all down to finances when the FA Cup carries such kudos for those taking part, but there is useful money to be made.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Kieran O’Callaghan, Nick Pitcher, Tom Davess; Jamie Ingham, Mark Price, Nathan Cooper, Jamie Hillwood; Phil Johnson, Phil Gault.
Subs: Dan Jacques (Price 45), Aaron Czech (Johnson 61), Chris Maynard, Rowan Wallis, Alex Harris (unused).
Starman: Jamie Hillwood was a major influence throughout the tie.
