ROBINS ON THE PINCH IN DAYLIGHT ROBBERY
It was a day of firsts at the Beacon. George Brown’s first senior goal for Hassocks gave the Robins their first home point of the season in their first ever meeting with Loxwood.
Brown chose a good moment to open his account for the club, the 18-year-old midfielder hitting a sweet left footed strike from the edge of the box in the 87th minute to earn a deserved share of the spoils.
That it came just two minutes after Loxwood themselves had taken the lead said much about the battling qualities that Hassocks had displayed all afternoon.
Because this was a battle. Loxwood may be the Division One new boys, but they’ve got an experienced side packed with quality that will ruffle more than a few feathers in their debut season at this level.
They look particularly well stocked up front, where the dangerous duo of Dean Wright and Tim Martin reprise a strike partnership that proved so fruitful for Three Bridges.
The fact that Hassocks kept those two largely quiet with a makeshift back four would have been particularly pleasing for Dave John.
With Ashley Marsh suspended and Ian Simpson at a wedding, John paired Nick Pitcher and Dan Jacques together in a new look centre back partnership.
He also had to send draft in Chris Maynard for his first appearance of the season. Maynard had decided at the end of last season to scale back his first team commitments but he answered John’s call here, hardly missing a beat at left back despite having played just once since December.
Brown meanwhile was handed a rare start in place of the injured Nathan Cooper in the centre of midfield and underlined his potential with a performance that was about so much more than just that late leveller.
Hassocks got off to their customary slow start as Martin and Matt Merridew both squandered good chances in the opening 15 minutes.
The Robins’ first opportunity came shortly after, Phil Gault heading straight at Matt Morrish in the Loxwood goal after an excellent delivery from Jamie Hillwood.
Jack Simpson made a stunning one handed save to keep out Martin’s header on the half hour mark before Hassocks finished the first half the stronger.
Gault’s clever free kick caught the Loxwood back line completely unaware but Brown could only fire into the side netting and Morrish then had to turn a Gault free kick away with the last kick of the half.
It was end-to-end stuff pretty much from the first whistle of the second half although neither Simpson nor Morrish was overworked as all too often fine approach play from both sides broke down on the edge of the box.
Hassocks were also met with an additional obstacle whenever they made it into the final third in the shape of Eddie French, the former Beacon favourite showing that he is still a class act 15 years after he broke into the Robins first team and captained Sussex Under 18s.
With five minutes to go, one of the teams finally turned good build up play into something on the scoreboard as Loxwood went ahead.
Teenage winger Rhyan Ramsey had fired a couple of warning shots about the damage he could cause down the left and he duly outstripped Ellis Common before pulling the ball back across the box.
That turned out to be the perfect cross as Joe Holvey came charging in from right wing back to place a precision shot just out of the reach of Simpson and into the bottom goal.
With so little time left to play, Hassocks knew their response would need to be immediate and luckily, it was. Gault’s cross from out on the right was headed away by the Loxwood defence but only as far as the lurking Brown whose pinpoint effort flew through a crowd of players, past the unsighted Morrish and into the bottom corner of the net.
The drama wasn’t done there though as Hassocks had a chance to snatch the three points in injury time when Nathan Miles hit a snapshot which Morrish did well to grab.
It would have been harsh on Loxwood had that gone in, but Hassocks could be pleased with their point – especially as John is still yet to field his strongest possible 11.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Ellis Common, Nick Pitcher, Dan Jacques, Chris Maynard; Phil Johnson, George Brown, Anthony Hibbert, Jamie Hillwood; Nathan Miles, Phil Gault.
Subs: Jake Booth (Maynard 77), Alex Gathern, Tom Davess (unused).
Starman: George Brown. An encouraging display from the young midfielder topped with a fine first senior goal.
