DEATH STRIKES LATE AS HASSOCKS SHOCK GOLDS
The young guns of Hassocks put in a superb performance as they shocked in form Littlehampton Town to win 1-0 through Michael Death’s stoppage time volley at the Flora Sportsfield.
Coming into this clash the two sides recent fortunes couldn’t have been more contrasting. Town had won their last four games on the spin plundering 17 goals along the way while Hassocks had failed to score in their last five outings.
The Robins have however become an extremely frugal team at the back in that time. This was their fifth clean sheet out of six in the Premier Division and it came despite being without captain Ashley Marsh and losing goalkeeper Alex Harris for the last 25 minutes.
Harris’ place was taken by joint manager Phil Wickwar who appeared as though he had been summoned straight from the 1980s rather than the substitutes bench, wearing a snug bright blue jersey over the top of what can only be described as a shell suit.
But while Wickwar may not have looked the part he certainly played his part, helping preserve his side’s latest shutout which provided the platform for Death’s late winner.
Death hasn’t had an easy time of it lately. He’s been asked to plough a lonely furrow up front in the absence of Phil Gault and Jonno Melia as Hassocks have set up with a the intent of keeping it tight in the absence of so many key attacking players. His 11th goal of the season was rich reward for those thankless recent endeavours.
One of those attacking players in Jamie Hillwood did return for this one but there was still a very youthful look to the side.
Harris, full backs Bradley Tighe and James Oliver, midfielder Dan Stokes and substitutes Liam Benson and Jack Wilkins are all still in their teens.
Not that you could tell with performances of great maturity against a vastly more experienced Town outfit who were the outstanding team in the division last season, beating Hassocks 6-1 twice on the way to winning the title.
It was hardly a classic on a difficult surface on which both sides struggled to play. The first half in particular was devoid of any real chances of note, Harris marginally busier than his opposite number Jon Hendrick in making good stops to deny Rob Hutchings and Scott Packer.
Both Harris and Hendrick dealt well with the multitude of high balls launched into their boxes in the second 45 before the former’s departure from proceedings after taking a nasty whack when trying to deal with a low shot. Wickwar defied his 40 odd years to pull off two fine saves on the stretch to keep his side in it late on.
Stokes was denied well by Hendrick who made himself big and then the Town goalkeeper was quick off his line to thwart Death as the clock ticked around to 90.
There was nothing he could do about the strikers late winner however, a volley that took a deflection on it’s way to hitting the back of the net and sparking wild scenes of celebration among both the players and the sizeable travelling support.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Bradley Tighe, Luke Akehurst, Tom Barnes, James Oliver; Bradley Bant, Josh Hawkes, James Westlake, Dan Stokes; Jamie Hillwood, Michael Death.
Subs: Jack Wilkins, Liam Benson, Phil Wickwar (used), Joe Russell (unused).
