YOUNG GUNS OF HASSOCKS MAKE IT SIX IN A ROW
You had to go back to the opening month of the 2012-13 season to find the last time Hassocks managed to string together six home victories in a row.
The visit of Worthing United provided the opportunity to rack up their first half dozen since then and the Robins duly took it, running out convincing 4-1 winners to surely end any lingering fears of relegation.
The three points took Hassocks over the magical 40 mark which normally guarantees safety and although this appears to be an unusual season in terms of the competitiveness of the teams in the bottom half, the Robins are now 10 points clear of AFC Uckfield Town in the final relegation spot with just four games remaining.
This was the fourth meeting between these two sides this season and no doubt United will be happy to see the back of the Robins having lost all four games, conceding 17 times along the way.
It hasn’t been advisable to turn up late to games at the Beacon recently and that pearl of wisdom ran true once again, Hassocks flying out of the traps to score inside the opening 10 minutes for the third consecutive home game.
James Westlake was the scorer with Jack Rowe-Hurst the architect. The latter’s brilliant through ball sending the former through completely untracked from deep and he made no mistake, neatly slotting the one-on-one past Nathan Stroomberg.
The assist for the opener from Rowe-Hurst was impressive enough, but he managed to outdo himself when teeing up Gault to double the advantage with a spectacular reverse pass from which the Robins talisman finished off with a plomb.
In-between those goals both sides had other chances as the game ebbed and flowed. Stroomberg denied James Westlake with an excellent stop while at the other end, Matt Hards hit an arching effort narrowly wide and James Broadbent demonstrated some good hands to hold onto a powerful Will Robinson header.
Robinson would not be denied for long however and he had his goal on the stroke of half time, some pleasing football through midfield from United eventually finding Callum Kealy out wide with his cross in being tucked away past Broadbent.
Conceding so close to the break can often turn a tie on its head but that that didn’t happen was largely due to substitute Liam Benson.
The striker had replaced Charlie Pitcher who was injured in a collision with Justin Gregory early on and he added Hassock’s final two goals.
The first came just four minutes after the restart. Referee Nick Blogg had a key role in, playing an advantage after an Owen Callaghan foul and the ball went through several more passing phases before Benson applied the finish for 3-1.
He then made it four just before the hour mark with a clinical finish after the ball began bouncing around the box like something from an out of control pinball machine.
Phil Wickwar was keen to highlight the youthful nature of his side afterwards with seven of the 14 players involved being under the age of 21.
“It’s a decent result but what was more pleasing was the style with which we played to get it. We can’t rest on our laurels though.”
“Easter Weekend looks daunting with games against two of the top five in the space of 48 hours, including a local derby with Haywards Heath Town on Monday morning. That’s as tough as it comes.”
Hassocks: James Broadbent; Bradley Tighe, Jordan Badger, Luke Akehurst, Bradley Bant; James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Harry Mills, Jack Rowe-Hurst; Phil Gault, Charlie Pitcher.
Subs: Michael Death, Liam Benson, Jack Wilkins (used), Ashley Marsh, Ben John (unused).
Starman: Liam Benson.
