OVERTON ON FIRE AS HASSOCKS MAULED BY LIONS
Coming off the back of a 6-0 hammering away at Broadbridge Heath, Hassocks could’ve been forgiven for fearing the absolute worse when confronted with the name of Pagham next on the Southern Combination League Premier Division fixture list.
The Robins haven’t tasted victory over the Lions for five seasons. In fact, they’ve picked up just a solitary point from their last eight meetings with Pagham having lost seven of those, conceding 20 times along the way.
That draw came on their previous visit to Nyetimber Lane a year ago, a 0-0 stalemate that had as much to do with an ineffective performance in front of goal from the hosts as it did a battling defensive performance from Hassocks.
Unfortunately for Mark Dalgleish and his side, there was to be no repeat of that blunt attacking showing from Pagham on this occasion as they were ruthless in front of goal, particularly Callum Overton who left with the match ball thanks to a clinical hat-trick in a 5-2 win.
After making the trip to Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre with a threadbare squad, Hassocks’ cause was at least helped by the returns of a raft of regulars.
They were led by top scorer Phil Johnson who came in for Jake Lindsey and Josh Green who replaced 16-year-old Toby Fisher in goal, the only player to emerge from the previous weeks castrating experience with any credit after an encouraging first team debut.
Captain Jordan Badger was also back in place of Ellis Common and he was straight into the action, making a number of key blocks in the opening 10 minutes as Pagham began the game with plenty of attacking intent in a bid to extend their unbeaten record to 15 games.
Overton’s first arrived with 12 minutes played but it owed much to the skill of Scott Murfin. Murfin has been a constant thorn in the side of Hassocks for approaching 15 years now and although he didn’t end the game with his customary goal, he still tormented the Robins throughout, beginning with his delightful cross which teed up Overton for a powerful finish past Green for the opener.
Badger was joined in the blocking club by Dan Jacques and Harvey Enticknap who denied George Gaskin and former Robins forward Jack Rowe-Hurst while a slick passing move through Charlie Wlliamson, Murfin and Gaskin ended with the latter whistling a shot just over the bar.
Hassocks finally managed to get some of the ball and were able to work a couple of half chances of their own. Harry Mills put an effort just off target from a Badger free kick sent long into the box and Matt Ford’s driving run was only ended when Daryl Wollers managed to shepherd him away from goal.
Murfin had two weak penalty appeals breamed away by referee Chris Britton and in between those decisions, the Robins lost Joe Bull to injury which saw Lindsey making an early appearance from the bench.
Williamson was having a great time bombing on from right back and only another superb block from Badger prevented his cross from causing potential carnage in the box.
But it wasn’t long until the Lions doubled their advantage, Wollers delivering to the far post where Gaskin was lurking to tuck the ball home.
That goal arrived three minutes before the break and Pagham managed to find the time to add a third before Mr Britton blew for half time, Overton netting his second of the afternoon with a well placed header.
With nothing to lose in the second half, Hassocks came out with far more attacking intent and were nearly rewarded for that change in approach as Liam Benson was denied by an excellent stop from James Binfield and Ford headed narrowly wide.
Another Badger delivery caused chaos but nobody in a red shirt could scramble the ball home while at the other end, Green produced a fantastic finger tip save to divert Rowe-Hurst’s effort behind at the expense of a corner.
The Robins goalkeeper then made two more smart stops to keep out Overton but the Pagham forward wouldn’t be denied his hat-trick for long, ending a fine solo run with a neat finish for the Lion’s fourth.
The game may have been up by that point but the entertainment certainly wasn’t, Lindsey sparking a mad final 10 minutes by pulling one back for the Robins when taking advantage of some slack defending to run through and beat Binfield.
That was Lindsey’s fourth goal in his past five games and he nearly had a fifth, this time being denied by a superb stop by Binfield. At the other end, Green produced an equally impressive save to keep out Rowe-Hurst.
Gaskin then claimed Pagham’s fifth by getting the final touch onto a ball delivered into the Hassocks area with five minutes remaining but the scoring still wasn’t done, Badger netting the sort of goal that you don’t associate with a no-nonsense defender by bursting through the Lions defence and slotting past Binfield in injury time.
Hassocks: Josh Green; Harry Mills, Dan Jacques, Will Broomfield, Jordan Badger; Joe Bull, Matt Ford, Harvey Enticknap, James Littlejohn; Liam Benson, Phil Johnson.
Subs: Jake Lindsey, George Galbraith-Gibbons, Jack Baden (used).
Starman: Harvey Enticknap
