MICHAEL STRIKES AT THE DEATH FOR THREE PRECIOUS POINTS
This was a must win game for Hassocks and they got the job done thanks to Michael Death’s late strike that secured a 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Wick & Barnham United.
The Robins arrived at Crabtree Park without a win in the previous 10 games – their worst run of form in over a decade – to take on hosts that before this encounter sat just one place and two points better off at the wrong end of the Premier Division table.
Playing a large part in that disappointing league position has been the number of goals Hassocks have conceded so far this season.
The fact they managed to keep a first clean sheet in 22 attempts would no doubt have been the most pleasing aspect of a welcome three points and it certainly gives them something to build on going forward.
Alex Harris in the visitors goal was hardly troubled throughout the 90 minutes. Wick’s best chance came straight from kick off as some sluggish defending allowed them to make ground quickly on the Hassocks goal only to spurn the opportunity.
Other than that scare, it was a comfortable afternoon for Harris in his second appearance since rejoining the club from Metropolitan Police.
Death set the tone for what was arguably his best performance in a Hassocks shirt to date with 10 minutes played when he nonchalantly scoop turned the ball around a defender and hit a decent effort from distance that flew just wide.
The Robins did have the ball in the net with a quarter of an hour gone, Spencer Slaughter tapping neatly into the bottom corner only to see the goal chalked off for an offside decision against James Westlake.
Hassocks squandered the easiest chance you will see all season just before the break. Westlake’s free kick from 30 yards was spilled by the home goalkeeper straight to the feet of Nick Pitcher who, with an open goal to aim at from a matter of yards, somehow defied all known laws of physics and gravity to send the ball over the bar.
It was another slow start to the second half from Hassocks with Harris displaying excellent handling to keep Wick at bay in the first action of note after the break.
Things then tailed off before Death had two good opportunities prior to netting the winner. The first came when he was released by Jonno Melia only to see his chipped effort float over and then then Bradley Bant worked himself some space out on the left with Death’s effort looping up and over again in the wind.
Third time lucky it was for the striker as some good football across the park eventually presented him with the opportunity which he duly took this time, lashing home with a just a couple of minutes remaining to secure the much needed three points and end that unwanted record of games without a victory.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Tom Barnes, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Luke Akehurst; James Westlake, Josh Hawkes, Spencer Slaughter, Bradley Bant; Michael Death, Jonno Melia.
Subs: Jamie Hillwood (Slaughter), Rowan Wallis (Pitcher), Dan Stokes (Death), Dan Jacques, Reece Wickwar (unused).
