FIVE STAR HASSOCKS MAKE IT 11 IN A ROW
Hassocks Ladies brushed aside the challenge of Oakwood to make it 11 wins from 11 games at the top of South East Counties Women’s League Division West.
These two sides last met in the second game of the season, the Robins squeaking away from Tinsley Lane with a 1-0 success courtesy of a Billie Philpott strike.
Fast forward four months and that remains the closest that Hassocks have come to dropping a point in the league so far this season and the devastating way in which they dispatched of a team who pushed them so close last time they met shows just how far Martin Lee’s side have come over the course of the campaign.
Following the pattern of recent games, this one started fairly evenly as Sam Newman had to intercept what could have been a dangerous Oakwood break, Katherine Chappell turned a Tallie Bright cross just wide and Claire Stevens has to head away an Oaks freekick.
Hassocks saw a goal disallowed for offside in the 19th minute but they weren’t to be denied an opener for long as seven minutes later, Katherine Chappell hit an unstoppable effort from outside the box after a clever pass from Bright.
That sparked a goal rush as the Robins added a second and third in the space of five minutes as Philpott and then Kirsten Mair got in on the act to put the hosts in an extremely commanding position.
Credit to Oakwood though who despite having the wind taken out of their sails kept plugging away, sending a shot just over and then delivering a dangerous cross which Sarah Chappell confidently collected.
That was as good as it got for the visitors however as Hassocks’ midfield three began to reassert themselves on proceedings with Gemma Craig making her first start after injury being particularly impressive alongside Chappell and Mair.
Three more chances came Hassocks’ way in quick succession before the end of the half and they all fell to Rushworth who saw an effort blocked on the line, fired over when well placed and was then just inches away from meeting a through ball from Emma Young.
The second half was just five minutes old when Hassocks added their fourth of the afternoon. Rushworth found Mair out wide and her cross was met by Billie Philpott for her second.
Philpott then intercepted a weak backpass to play in Mair but her shot was just over the bar and Stevens saw a header cleared off the line.
Oakwood came into the game a little more after the hour mark and only some excellent defending from Chloe John and Young prevented them pulling one back.
The introduction of Ria Banitas broke that spell of Oakwood dominance and it was the substitute who created Hassocks’ fifth, playing a perfect through ball for Philpott to latch onto and complete her hat-trick.
There were two more late opportunities to bring up the dozen but Mair fired over from a Chappell cross and Jodie Johanson and Philpott combined well to set up Banna Hannes but her effort struck the post.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Emma Young, Sam Newman, Gemma Craig, Claire Stevens, Chloe John, Tallie Bright, Katherine Chappell, Billie Philpott, Kelly Rushworth, Kirsten Mair.
Subs: Banna Hannes, Ria Banitas, Jodie Johanson (used), Hollie Larmar (unused).
