VERY YOUNG HASSOCKS COME CLOSE A CUP SHOCK
For the second week running, Hassocks lost to Langney Wanderers and conceded four goals in the process. But that was where the similarities stopped.
Whereas last week’s 4-0 Premier Division defeat was something of a walk in the park for Wanderers at Priory Lane, they were made to fight all the way at the Beacon to progress to round three of the Peter Bentley League Cup.
Twice Langney led over the course of the 90 but twice Hassocks came fighting back. The Robins got to within three minutes of taking the tie to extra time before the visitors struck twice late on, eventually doing just enough to win 4-2 and book a meeting with Division One high flyers Mile Oak in the next round of the competition.
It was harsh on Mark Dagleish’s young battlers, particularly a back four which must surely have been the youngest that the club have ever fielded; the Robins’ injury and unavailability crisis showing no sign of abating.
Three quarters of the Hassocks defence were born after the year 2000. As one startled observer watching from the Clubhouse side put it when they heard that statistic, “That means they were born after the Spice Girls split”.
Very true. It was a defence that wasn’t so much Baby, Posh, Sporty and Scary as Baby, Baby, Baby and Harvey. You had 16-year-old Luke Marshall partnered at centre back by 19-year-old Dan Turner, rushing back to help out from a nasty arm injury picked up on Under 23 duty three weeks ago and which had left him in a sling. At right back, there was another 16-year-old as Jack Gardner came into the side for his full debut.
The elder statesman of the defence was Harvey Blake, himself only 24-years-old and wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in the absence of so many other senior players.
Hassocks had looked toothless in attack last week and they were at least boosted in that department this time around with Jamie Hillwood, Liam Benson and Joe Bull all back to add a welcome boost to the Robins’ firepower.
The only goal of the first half arrived after just 10 minutes, Joe Summerbell hitting an opportunistic effort from 25 yards which beat Josh Green.
You could have been forgiven at that point for thinking a repeat of last week’s heavy defeat was on the cards, but while Langney dominated possession, clear cut chances were harder to come by for either side.
That’s testament to the efforts of the Robins’ young defence, who made it to the break without conceding any further goals.
This provided Hassocks with a platform to be a little more positive in the second half and they duly began to take the game to the visitors.
Just past the hour mark and the Robins’ desire to get on the front foot was rewarded when Hillwood hit a distance effort of his own, flummoxing Langney goalkeeper Dan Hutchings from well outside the box for 1-1.
Wanderers boss Simon Colbran responded by turning to his bench and on came Ali Mekawir in place of Matt Fear. It proved to be an inspired decision.
Within five minutes of his introduction, Mekawir had put Langney back into the lead with a well worked goal, the finish being applied from inside the six yard box.
Mekawir had the chance to wrap things up on 83 but he fired wide with only Green to beat and that miss was duly punished as Hassocks went straight up the other end to equalise for the second time.
Langney defender Shaun Lee suffered an unfortunate slip in the build up to the goal and that allowed Ben Bacon to get in one-on-one.
Bacon still had plenty to do but he produced a cool, calm and collected finish to life the ball over the advancing Hutchings for his seventh goal in 15 games since re-joining from Steyning Town.
There were just six minutes of normal time remaining at that point and extra time was looming large, a deserved reward for the doggedness of Hassocks’ young side.
But Langney have carved out a reputation so far this season as a side who never die. They’ve already come back from 3-0 down with 25 minutes remaining to draw 3-3 away at Newhaven and, sadly from a Hassocks point of view, those qualities were on display as with three minutes left, the visitors took the lead for the third time.
The Robins couldn’t quite clear their lines from a goalmouth scramble and the melee ended with Dan Blackmore heading home.
Hassocks poured forward after that and forced a couple of half chances but they were also vulnerable to being picked off on the break.
And that’s where Langney’s fourth game from deep into five minutes of time added on, a blistering counter attacking move led by Mekawir and finished off by Max Hollobone.
Hassocks: Josh Green; Jack Gardner, Dan Turner, Luke Marshall, Harvey Blake; Harvey Enticknap, Dan Stokes; Liam Benson, Joe Bull, Jamie Hillwood; Ben Bacon.
Subs: Harvey Ransome, Louis Pople (used), George Galbraith-Gibbons, Alex Spinks, Phil Wickwar.
