HASSOCKS HOLD THE CHIPS AS THEY FORCE FA CUP REPLAY
The players of Hassocks weren’t the most popular people in South London on Saturday. On the pitch, they’d put in a dogged performance to hold Chipstead to a 0-0 FA Cup Preliminary Qualifying Round draw, ensuring that their Isthmian League South Central Division hosts now have to come to the Beacon for a replay in 10 days time.
Off it, the Robins decided to stop in a Coulsdon pub on the way home to celebrate the first time they’d managed to avoid defeat against a side from a higher level since 2006. There was also the small matter of Liverpool v Arsenal on television.
What they hadn’t considered was the reaction deep in Crystal Palace territory to 20 men walking into a bar wearing tracksuits emblazoned with the name of Brighton and Hove Albion fan site WeAreBrighton.com, one of Hassocks’ sponsors.
Needless to say, the locals weren’t happy – even after Palace’s shock 2-1 win at Manchester United earlier in the day. But not even the hostile reception and the abuse they copped in the pub could ruin this day for the Robins, who will now have genuine hopes of pulling off an upset at the second attempt.
If they can repeat their dogged defensive performance from High Road and get their goal getters Phil Johnson, Jack Rowe-Hurst and Jamie Hillwood fit for the replay, then they’ll have every chance of doing so.
The most pleasing aspect of this draw was undoubtedly the clean sheet recorded by the outstanding Josh Green and his back four.
Shutouts have been a rare commodity for Hassocks over the past six years, so to secure one away from home against opponents from a division above was an excellent rear guard effort.
Mark Dalgleish made one change from the side who had gone down to a late 1-0 defeat at Pagham in midweek. That saw the unavailable Lewis Westlake replaced in midfield by Harvey Enticknap, making his first start of the campaign.
In truth, this was a game of few chances. Most of the good stuff Hassocks did going forward though came through Enticknap, a reminder of the talents possessed by one of last season’s breakout stars after his signing from Loxwood and promotion from the Under 23s.
The Robins’ back line, led by enigmatic man-of-the-match Dan Jacques, kept Chipstead at bay for the most part but when they did find a way through, they found Green in inspired form.
Green set his stall out for the afternoon early, denying Tom Collins with a solid one-on-one save after the Chipstead striker played to the advantage while his teammates and the Hassocks defence froze in the wake of a handball appeal against Harry Mills.
Hassocks’ best route to goal appeared to be down the right hand channel. Harvey Blake fizzed a low cross in after pushing forward from full back and James Littlejohn followed suit, delivering a dangerous ball which Ben Bacon skewed just wide.
Green had to show good hands twice in quick succession just prior to the break, gathering a Sam Clayton free kick and an effort from Jordan Bird.
Will Broomfield’s header from a corner was the first chance of the second half but proved comfortable for Chipstead goalkeeper Oliver Pain to deal with low down to his right.
That was followed by a flurry of activity down the other end. Green kept out efforts from Collins and Sam Bell with Dan Moody firing wastefully over with a shot on the turn.
A flowing counter attack broke that period of Chipstead domination as Berridge, Enticknap and Troak combined to force Sam Page into a vital block.
The stifling heat then began to take its toll. Bacon needed treatment for cramp before being replaced by Dan Stokes, hardly a surprise given this was his third 90 minutes in the space of a week after no football for three months. Bell was also visibly struggling for the hosts.
Bell was forced into continuing however as a freak turn of events saw two of Chipstead’s substitutes forced off injured within minutes of coming on. An overenthusiastic challenge did for Jacob Sewell’s ankle and then his replacement Callum Hart limped off.
Hassocks nearly took advantage of all that unrest in the home ranks with two minutes remaining when the best chance of the game fell to young Jack Troak.
Littlejohn again caused havoc down the right hand side, finding Troak but he could only fire over home eight yards out. Had that gone in, those pints in Coulsdon would have tasted even better.
Hassocks: Josh Green; Harvey Blake, Dan Jacques, Harry Mills, Andy Whittingham; Will Broomfield, Matt Berridge; James Littlejohn, Harvey Enticknap, Jack Troak; Ben Bacon.
Subs: Dan Stokes (Bacon), Nick Pitcher, Jamie Hillwood, Arni Kublickas, Joe Bull (unused).
