ROBINS BATTLE BACK TO LANCE LANCING
We may only be at the tail end of October, but come the end of the season this three points that Hassocks Under 23s collected from Lancing could be massive.
The Robins came from behind twice to win an enthralling contest 3-2, super sub George Galbraith-Gibbons scoring his fourth goal from the bench with 15 minutes remaining to keep his side at the top of the Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division on goal difference from Horsham YMCA.
Lancing came into the game in third spot having lost just once. That defeat came against YM and the Lancers also remained the only side other than Selsey to have take points off Hassocks when the two drew 1-1 on the opening day of the season at Culver Road.
All that pointed to the fact that they would prove to be tougher opponents than the Robins had faced in their last outings in which they’ve hammered both Hailsham Town and Mile Oak, scoring 11 goals without conceding.
Hassocks boss Nigel Pearce would’ve been grateful to have the services of Matt Berridge for the first time this season.
Berridge has established himself as a first team regular but having missed last Saturday’s defeat at Little Common, he played here in a bid to get some match sharpness back.
Berridge took the place of the absent Connor Bradley, one of four changes from last week’s win over Mile Oak. James Oliver was recalled in place of Ben Jonas, Will Glenn came in for captain Ellis Common and 17-year-old striker Tristan Hayes made his full debut with Max Willcox unavailable.
Losing Willcox looked on paper a severe blow given he’d scored six times in his past two appearances, but Hayes again showed why he is so highly thought of at the Beacon having plundered 10 goals already for the Under 18s with an adept show.
Lancing set the tone for a breathless encounter by going ahead inside of five minutes through Luke Richards and they then provided the equaliser for Hassocks via an own goal midway through the first half.
It was level at the break but again the visitors flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and Richards had his and Lancing’s second just eight minutes after the restart.
Glenn justified Pearce’s decision to start him with the second Hassocks equaliser just past the hour mark. That was Glenn’s first goal for the club since his summer arrival and it paved the way for Galbraith-Gibbons to repeat his party trick of scoring from the bench, netting what proved to be the winner 15 minutes from time.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Jake Lane, Keiran Wells, James Oliver, Louie Derham, Joe Russell, Harvey Enticknap, Matt Berridge, Will Glenn, Tristan Hayes, James Littlejohn.
Subs: Martin Ratcliffe, Kieran Dimelowe, George Galbraith-Gibbons.
