CUP SEMI HEARTBREAK AS ROBINS SILENCED BY EP
In this clash between two of the Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division’s top three, it was East Preston who came out on top against Hassocks to book their place in the League Cup final.
Cian Griffin-Tilley’s second half double proved to be the difference between the two as EP ran out 3-1 winners at Middle Road.
They will now go on to face AFC Uckfield Town in the final after the Oaks picked up a hugely impressive 4-0 victory over Newhaven in the other semi-final.
For Hassocks, their focus will now switch to the league with the Robins knowing that three victories from their final three games will secure the West Division title.
Their position at the head of the table had been strengthened 48 hours earlier after Horsham YMCA were held 2-2 at home by Broadbridge Heath.
That leaves Nigel Pearce’s side top on goal difference but now with a game in hand, although the clash between Hassocks and YM at Gorings Mead in a fortnights time still looks like it will be pivotal in deciding where the championship goes come the end of the campaign.
EP meanwhile site someway back in third, 10 points behind the leading two and with Hassocks having won their last league meeting 3-1 back in December, it was the Robins who came into this final four clash as slight favourites.
Pearce was able to name arguably as strong a side as he has all season, making just one change from the team which hammered Midhurst & Easebourne 6-2 a week ago. That saw Under 18 squad member Kieran Dimelow drop out with his place being taken by Jake Lindsey.
That gave Hassocks a potent looking frontline of first team forwards Lindsey and James Littlejohn alongside Max Willcox who has 13 goals in 13 games for the Under 23s so far this season.
Despite Hassocks’ firepower, they failed to find a way past Thomas Crook in the EP goal in the first half and it was in fact the opposition who headed into half time 1-0 ahead.
Jack Collins was the scorer with 30 minutes on the clock although Hassocks won’t have been too worried about falling behind given that the majority of their victories so far this campaign have seen them have to recover from going a goal down.
More problematic was what happened 20 minutes in the second half which was when Griffin-Tilley popped up with his first of the evening to double EP’s advantage and leave Hassocks with what now appeared to be a mountain to climb.
The Robins did at least respond in the best manner possible, Littlejohn halving the deficit just four minutes after Griffin-Tilley had struck to give Hassocks a lifeline.
They poured forward in the final 20 minutes as a result but were unable to find a way past Crook and his defence, even after Pearce threw on forwards Will Glenn and Martin Ratcliffe from the bench as well as in-form first team midfielder Harvey Enticknap.
None of them could make the difference required however and EP killed the game off with six minutes remaining when Griffin-Tilley grabbed his second.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Ellis Common, Kieran Wells, James Oliver, Joe Russell, Matt Berridge, Connor Bradley, Max Donaldson, Jake Lindsey, Max Willcox, James Littlejohn.
Subs: Martin Ratcliffe, Will Glenn, Harvey Enticknap, Steve Bright, Louie Derham (used).
