LATE LIONS GOAL LEAVES HASSOCKS HEARTBROKEN
Just one minute separated Hassocks from a fourth consecutive 0-0 draw when Terrel Mills struck for Pagham to ensure that a youthful Robins side made the long journey back from Nyetimber Lane with nothing to show for their efforts.
And what an effort it was as with 10 first team regulars unavailable, they so nearly claimed a deserved point which in truth could have been all three.
This is the closest that they have come to picking up a victory in the three recent stalemates. A number of good chances went begging which would have left Hassocks wondering just what might have been had the likes of Phil Gault, Jonno Melia and Josh Hawkes been available.
Those three have contributed just shy of 30 goals between them this season and missing such an attacking triumvirate again forced Hassocks into setting up defensively and trying to nick a goal on the counter.
Among the defence that put in such a substantial effort were two Under 21 players making their first full starts for the club in Tom Pinnock at right back and James Oliver at left back.
There was also a senior debut for Youth Team midfielder Joe Russell from the bench, where the lack of players had become so acute that Russell’s fellow named substitutes were the joint management duo of Mark Dalgleish and Phil Wickwar.
And the bad news is that the selection crisis doesn’t look like easing anytime soon. Ashley Marsh became the latest in a growing list of men in Hassocks tracksuits to walk into Accident and Emergency after a game, where he had to have his head glued back together after a first half clash with Peter Beadle and Jack Wilkins saw red for two bookable offences leaving him facing a one game ban.
“I’m gutted for the lads after another mammoth effort,” Wickwar said after the game. “We have guys playing with injuries, guys playing out of position and a load more guys missing full stop which makes coming to a place like Pagham even tougher than it already is.”
A couple of early goalmouth scrambles were lacking the finishing touch in the opening exchanges for Hassocks and Dan Swain was lucky not to go into the book for a nasty tackle on Mark Price from which the resulting free kick came to nothing.
Pagham had plenty of possession after that but Alex Harris was again in fine form to keep out everything that was thrown at him.
Hassocks had the best chance of the first half that either side could muster and it fell to Oliver but his shot after the Lions failed to clear their lines from a free kick on the right sailed just over the bar.
Michael Death couldn’t take advantage of a decent double chance after the break with Harris doing superbly to deny a stinging effort from substitute Ceri Marsh just a matter of seconds after he had entered proceedings.
Russell was denied by an excellent clearance from home stopper James Binfield and James Thurgar twice went close to beating Harris before referee Nigel Baker decided he fancied a little bit of attention.
This wasn’t a nasty game but Mr Baker still felt the need to flash cards to the home trio of Andy Brown, Thurgar and Dale Hayes in the space of three minutes and then dismissed young Wilkins with around 10 left on the clock.
Pagham nearly scored from the free kick resulting from Wilkins’ second yellow challenge but George Cody only succeeded in firing over after an unconvincing clearance from the initial set piece.
It looked like the 10 men were going to hold on for another excellent point against the odds right up until the clock ticked into the 89th minute and Mills struck with a low placed shot past Harris to break Hassocks hearts.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Tom Pinnock, Ashley Marsh, Tom Barnes, James Oliver; Mark Price, Dan Stokes, James Westlake, Jack Wilkins; Liam Benson, Michael Death.
Subs: Joe Russell (Price 45), Mark Dalgleish, Phil Wickwar (unused).
