Hassocks Ladies were crowned South East Counties Women’s League Division One West champions – and in some style – as they hammered Bexhill United 6-0 at the Beacon.
Following Burgess Hill Town’s defeat to Mole Valley last week, the Robins knew that if they could pillage three points from the Pirates then they’d be able to claim the title before their final two games of the campaign – both against the Hillians.
And they duly delivered to cap a double as the league title will now join the Sussex Women’s Challenge Trophy in the silverware cabinet.
Hassocks started brightly with Billie Philpott clearly eager to add to her 36-goal haul. She went close as early as the fifth minute when shooting narrowly over after good work from Kirsten Mair and was then denied by a fine smothering save from the Bexhill goalkeeper.
The visiting custodian denied Katherine Chappell before Philpott fired in two more efforts that weren’t far away, the first drawing another good save and the second hitting the side netting.
Jodie Johnason was looking lively down the right wing and Chappell again went close as Hassocks continued to enjoy plenty of possession but without a cutting edge.
It took them until the 37th minute to open the scoring but the goal was well worth the wait. Philpott and Mair showed excellent interplay to fashion an opportunity for Kelly Rushworth and she duly took it, hitting an unstoppable left footed shot which rocketed into the top corner of the Bexhill goal.
The Robins were rocking now and virtually straight from kick off they regained possession and Philpott had another shot saved.
Hassocks weren’t to be denied for long however and just three minutes after Rushworth had opened the scoring, Katherine Chappell doubled the advantage although she did have a bit of a helping hand from Rushworth who got he slightest of deflections onto the initial shot to flummox the Bexhill goalkeeper.
The visitors didn’t give up despite conceding twice in quick succession and they could even have pulled one back before half time were it not for an excellent intervention from Hassocks defender Sam Newman.
The Robins could feel the championship within their grasp and they flew out the traps at the start of the second half in an attempt to put the game well and truly to bed.
Rushworth shot wide five minutes after the restart after good work by Johanson and then got a shot on target three minutes later. The resulting save fell kindly for Hassocks and Mair was on hand to calmly slot the loose ball home to make it 3-0.
Two minutes later and Hassocks put the result beyond doubt when a Rushworth through ball found Chappell who showed a cool head to place past the Bexhill goalkeeper.
The Robins were on the rampage now and they scored for the third time in four minutes with arguably the goal of the afternoon, Liz King finding the top corner with a half-volley from a full 35 yards out.
Stevens had to do some more good covering to thwart a rare Bexhill attack before Martin Lee turned to his bench and introduced Banna Hannes and Tallie Bright.
Bright was straight into the action, slotting into an unfamiliar position as part of the back three and then needing three attempts to get a throw in into play as the wet and
slippery ball kept falling out of her hands, which she claimed was tactical timewasting.
The score sheet had a slightly unusual look to it at this point as five had been scored by Hassocks and yet Philpott’s name wasn’t on it.
She soon righted that anomaly with a calmly taken goal in the 77th minute which proved to be the Robins’ last of the day.
In fact, it was Bexhill who had the better chances after that with Sarah Chappell making one fine save from a late corner as the visitors finished with something of a flourish.
Still, Hassocks held on for three points and another clean sheet, although credit must go to the Pirates who were a vastly improved side from the one that the Robins faced earlier in the campaign.
Whilst the league and cup double may now be completed, Hassocks will no doubt want to preserve their proud unbeaten record in their final two games against local rivals Burgess Hill, who themselves will be out for revenge after the Robins defeated them in that County Trophy final back in March.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Emma Young, Claire Stevens, Sam Newman, Jodie Johnason, Katherine Chappell, Liz King, Gemma Craig, Kirsten Mair, Billie Philpott, Kelly Rushworth.
Subs: Tallie Bright, Ellie Moquet, Banna Hannes (used).
