LANCING CAN FIND NO WAY PAST THE ROBINS RESISTANCE
For the third game running a dogged defensive display earned Hassocks a 0-0 draw, this time against high flying Lancing.
That made it two shutouts back-to-back against the teams sitting third and first in the Southern Combination League following the Robins recording of the same result against Eastbourne Town four days previously.
They have now gone 378 minutes without conceding, the last team to find a way past Alex Harris and his back four being the same opponents they faced here when they met 11 days ago in the last eight of the Peter Bentley League Cup, a night which saw Lancing run out 4-0 winners.
Two goals inside the first quarter of an hour did for Hassocks at Culver Road on that occasion but Lancing were unable to repeat the trick against a Robins side who have showed steely determination in the face of a mounting injury crisis.
Jamie Hillwood and George Brown played at 70% fitness while Phil Gault joined the growing absentee list after a huge gash he received in his leg on Tuesday required him sitting in A&E until 5am Wednesday morning and 10 stitches for his troubles.
Just to add to those woes, Hassocks lost Rowan Wallis after 10 minutes here when he pulled up lame. The resulting reshuffle saw Bradley Bant enter proceedings with Tom Barnes dropping into centre back.
All credit to the Robins though as the changes were seamless in a first half which frittered away without any noteworthy efforts on goal for either side.
Lancing were the closest to breaking the deadlock in the arid opening 45 when the Hassocks offside trap was sprung with ease but the resultant attempted lob was a poor one straight into the hands of the grateful Harris.
Things picked up in the second half, Lancing quick out of the blocks with captain Naim Rouane lashing wide before Hassocks came into the game.
Substitute Dan Stokes – who replaced another injured player in the shape of Mark Price at the break – was slipped in by Bant only to see his effort blocked by Josh Spinks and then Michael Death volleyed just over from the resulting corner.
Jamie Hillwood’s attempted pull back when in acres out on the left was scrambled away with Jack Wilkins lurking and Death was inches away from connecting with a header after a fierce leap to a delightful delivery in.
Both teams went for the jugular in the final 10 minutes. Lancing’s Mike Williamson somehow missed a header from point blank rage and he then just failed to get his toe to a low ball in with the goal gaping.
At the other end, George Brown’s pinpoint delivery found Death totally unmarked eight yards out only for the ball to bobble up right in front of Death’s swinging foot with the resulting effort flying over the crossbar.
Alex Bygraves made a vital clearance from a Bradley Tighe cross with Death again loitering with intent at the back past and Lancing scuffed their final opportunity in the dying embers of the match, a solid save from Harris ensuring the spoils were shared.
“First and third in the league have failed to score past us,” said a happy Phil Wickwar after the game. “With the players that we have out, we’ve had to set up to be hard to beat and it has worked.”
“It was the right result but if we had not lost Wallis and Price – although it isn’t unusual for Pricey to last no more than 45 minutes – we might have been able to get our noses in front and sneak a win.”
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Bradley Tighe, Ashley Marsh, Rowan Wallis, George Brown; Jack Wilkins, James Westlake, Tom Barnes, Mark Price, Jamie Hillwood; Michael Death.
Subs: Bradley Bant (Wallis), Dan Stokes (Price), Liam Benson (Death), Michael McCormick (unused).
