ROBINS DROP POINTS TO BATTLING BEARS
Hassocks Under 23s hopes of lifting a first Southern Combination League West Division title were dealt a blow as they were held at home by Broadbridge Heath.
The Bears became only the fourth team to take points off of Nigel Pearce’s side so far this season, claiming a 2-2 draw which allowed their neighbours Horsham YMCA to open up a two-point lead at the top of the table.
Hassocks do still have a game in hand and they also face a pivotal trip to Gorings Mead to take on the leaders in April so the title is still in their hands, but there was no disguising that this was a disappointing result for the Robins.
With both top scorer James Littlejohn and third highest scorer George Galbraith-Gibbons unavailable, Pearce turned to Under 18s striker Tristan Hayes to lead the line alongside Jake Lindsey, made available due to a lack of first team game time of late.
And while the teenage duo may have both got on the score sheet, Hassocks no doubt missed the prowess of their other striking options who have plundered 25 goals between them so far this season.
Hassocks made a slow start and they fell behind as early as the sixth minute, Thomas Shergold giving Heath a surprise lead after finishing neatly past Josh Green.
They were ahead for 16 minutes before Hayes equalised, the 17-year-old striker taking his record to three goals in five games now after burying past former Hassocks youth goalkeeper Conor Evento.
Lindsey has an even more impressive strike rate for the Under 23s than Hayes and he notched his second goal in as many games for Pearce’s side this season when putting the Robins ahead eight minutes before the break.
Remarkably, Hassocks managed to start the second half in even slower fashion that the first and that allowed Heath to equalise just five minutes after the restart.
Ben Whiteley was the scorer and despite having 40 minutes to try and find a winner, the Robins were unable to do so despite plenty of honest endeavour.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Ellis Common, Kieran Wells, Louie Derham, James Oliver, Steve Bright, Connor Bradley, Harvey Enticknap, Will Glenn, Tristan Hayes, Jake Lindsey.
Subs: Martin Ratcliffe, Max Willcox, Joe Russell (used).
