ROBINS IMPROVE BUT ITS NOT ENOUGH TO SECURE RUR QUARTER FINAL SPOT
After suffering a 5-0 County League Division One defeat at Horsham YMCA on Saturday, Hassocks returned to Gorings Mead for midweek Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup action.
The Robins gave a much improved account of themselves second time around, although it still was not enough as YM progressed a quarter final tie against Rye United with a 3-2 victory despite playing for 50 minutes with 10 men.
Half time was five minutes away and the score locked at 1-1 when Tom Cannon received a straight red card from referee Ian Moore.
Cannon had decided to welcome Ashley Marsh back into the Hassocks line up with a high tackle that was dangerous, reckless and quite unnecessary.
They often say that playing against 10 is harder than 11 and the Robins certainly found that to be the case, unable to press home their numerical advantage. That leaves Mickey Jewell and his players with just the league and the Sussex Senior Cup now to concentrate on.
Given the threadbare look of Jewell’s squad at the minute, Hassocks were happy to have Marsh available after suspension and long time absentee Kieran O’Callaghan back in the fold.
Jewell also gave an opportunity to Stuart Brown out on the right, the winger having scored four goals in his past two appearances for the reserves.
Hassocks looked determined to make up for their poor show at the weekend, starting the game with plenty of determination and a high work rate which caught YM by surprise.
That led to the Robins opening the scoring with 14 minutes played. Young Alex Harris in goal sent a long kick forward expertly flicked on by Phil Gault.
The ball fell into the path of Craig Knowles, who took an unexpected early shot from 35 yards which flew past surprised home goalkeeper Sam Smith.
Knowles had an excellent game playing on the shoulder of the YM defence, frequently using his pace to break through whilst always aware enough never to stray offside.
One such instance of clever play from Knowles almost led to Hassocks doubling their lead. His escape down the right led to a cross only half cleared by YM to Brown who shot narrowly wide from a good position 10 yards out.
The Robins were made to rue that miss on 33 when YM equalised. Some neat play eventually left Ashley Dugdale with enough space on the edge of the box to place an effort into the far corner which left Harris with no chance.
No YM players had any complaints when Cannon was given his marching orders, almost as if they knew that they would end up streaking 3-1 ahead within 10 minutes of the second half.
Hassocks failed to clear their lines, giving Dave Brown a sight of goal. Brown scuffed his effort and Harris looked to have it covered, only for the ball to find its way in.
Five minutes later and Hassocks were done on the counter, Dan Sullivan finishing neatly. Visiting fans could have been forgiven for fearing that a similar collapse and scoreline to Saturday was about to unfold.
Hassocks though showed the sort of resolve missing a little over 72 hours earlier by quickly working their way back into the tie.
Anthony Hibbert pulled one back on the hour mark after a lovely move carved through YM. Knowles was again at the heart of it. He beat the offside trap to slip in Brown, whose low pull back was cleverly dummied by Gault leaving Hibbert to finish.
Jewell switched things up after that, introducing Jamie Ingham for Brown on the right and bringing on youth teamer George Brown for a senior debut in place of Dan Jacques.
17-year-old Brown has a wicked left foot and it was from one of his corners swung in with pace and accuracy that Hassocks had their best chance to equalise. O’Callaghan met the delivery with a looping header which came back off the crossbar.
Knowles broke through once more after being released by Gault but Smith made a good save low down to his left as the game entered its final 10 minutes.
That was the cue to throw O’Callaghan up front and start launching the ball forward with Knowles running off in a desperate search for an equaliser. YM though held on.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Tom Davess; Stuart Brown, Kieran O’Callaghan, Anthony Hibbert, Dan Jacques; Craig Knowles, Phil Gault
Subs: George Brown (S Brown), Jamie Ingham (Jacques), Chris Maynard, Aaron Czech, Rowan Wallis (unused).
Starman: Craig Knowles led the line well and was a constant threat to the YM defence.
