ROBINS INTO DROP ZONE AFTER MULLETS MAULING
The Southern Combination League Premier Division’s two longest serving clubs met at the Beacon on Saturday but if this performance was anything to go by, then Hassocks’ 24 year top flight run will be at an end come April.
Arundel’s own 18 year stay has looked under threat since they suffered a 3-0 opening day loss to the Robins and less than one month ago, manager Richard Towers resigned with his side at the foot of the table, only to be reappointed a week later.
Despite the new man being the old man, the Mullets still gained that new manager bounce in results and performances and they had an impressive victory at fellow strugglers Eastbourne United the previous week to their name.
They did still arrive as one of only four sides below Hassocks in the table at the start of the day but they turned that on its head by 5pm, climbing above their hosts and out of the relegation zone for the first time this season thanks to a 4-0 win inspired by a hat-trick from midfielder Dion Jarvis.
It is hard to recall a poorer afternoon or performance in such an important game at the Beacon and a drastic improvement in performances is required.
Hassocks are now one game shy of being halfway through their league campaign with only 16 points on the board. Replicate that in the second half of the season and they will end up with 32, by far their lowest ever points total in senior football and short of the 40 which is generally considered to be the safety mark.
There is some hope of course. The Robins have been in similar relegation trouble for the past three seasons and have always found a way to get out of it.
But you do wonder if at some point, much like Sunderland in the Premier League, their luck at pulling off second half of the season escapes is going to run out.
It may be all doom and gloom at the Beacon when it comes to the struggling first team, but there are plenty of positives coming from the club’s other sides with Hassocks’ Under 21s second in their division and the Under 18s top of their league.
With injury, suspension and unavailability ruling out the likes of Jordan Badger, Spencer Slaughter, Charlie Pitcher, Michael Death and Lewis Westlake, Mark Dalgleish and Phil Wickwar turned to some of the players who’ve impressed for both those sides so far this season.
Under 21s Matt Berridge and Kieran Rowe were handed rare starts and youth team team strikers Jake Lindsey and George Galbraith-Gibbons were introduced from the bench in the second half.
Those four have a combined 40 goals between them so far this season but finding the net remains a real struggle for Hassocks at first team level as they drew a blank for the fourth time in five games.
That makes the departure of top scorer Liam Benson to Lancing a week ago even more damaging to the Robins hopes of survival.
The game was goalless at the break and lacked any real quality until Jarvis sparked into life to score three times in 21 minutes.
The first of those arrived two minutes after the restart with Hassocks minds seemingly still in the changing rooms and the second came on the hour mark. Jarvis completed his quick-fire hat-trick with a third eight minutes later to leave Hassocks shell-shocked.
The Mullets in-form striker Shane Brazil added their fourth to score for a fourth consecutive game. That came in the final 10 minutes and rounded off a thoroughly miserable afternoon for the Robins.
Wickwar – normally so happy to talk after a game no matter if his side have won, lost or drawn – remained silent which said everything about Hassocks’ day while his opposite number Towers said he expects his side to make a move up the table now they have some momentum behind them.
Oh how Hassocks could do with similar, although it’s hard to see where the next win is coming from with a trip to Newhaven – where they have never won before – and the visit of league leaders Haywards Heath Town to come.
Hassocks: Nathan Stroomberg; Adam Dawson, Ashley Marsh, Josh Tuck, Joe Maskell; Bradley Bant, James Westlake, Kieran Rowe, Matt Berridge; Phil Gault, Jack Wilkins.
Subs: Tom Barnes, George Galbraith-Gibbons, Jake Lindsey (used).
