JOHNSON AND GGG STRIKE LATE AS HASSOCKS SHOCK YMCA
Has there ever been a more typically Hassocks result than this? The Robins have long been known for their Jekyll and Hyde ability of veering from the sublime to the shocking, but even by their standards securing their best result of the season 72 hours after their worst seemed ridiculous.
On Saturday at Plaistow Road, bottom of the table Loxwood stormed into a three-goal lead inside of 25 minutes on their way to their first Premier Division win of the season at the 23rd attempt.
Three days later and it looked like another demoralising evening was on the cards for Hassocks. Horsham YMCA went two ahead inside of seven minutes at the Beacon through a quick-fire brace from Sam Lemon featuring two very well taken goals which left a sour taste in the mouths of the home faithful.
Yet the battling qualities which Hassocks sides always used to be associated with came to the fore at this most crucial of junctures and the Robins found a way back, winning 3-2 to spark new life into their battle against relegation.
As Hassocks physio Phil Wickwar, who has seen most things in his 25 year plus association with the club tweeted afterwards, “Found my Robins tonight.”
With two more home games to come in an action packed next seven days, Hassocks and their supporters will be hoping that this sets the standard going forward.
This game had originally been due to take place 10 days ago but fell to a waterlogged pitch at the Beacon. The hastily-rearranged nature of it meant that there was a below-par crowd, although that almost certainly wasn’t helped by the final throes of Storm Ciara hitting Hassocks and the Robins’ result at the weekend.
Those who did brave the weather and the freezing temperatures were treated to an entertaining game, particularly in the second half when the Robins completed their stirring comeback.
James Westlake got the party started in the 55th minute, finishing off a rebound for his 30th goal in Hassocks colours after James Littlejohn had rattled the bar.
Having a player of Westlake’s quality is likely to be a real boost in the battle to survive, so Hassocks will be hoping that his running commitments allow him to play on a more frequent basis. This was his second midweek appearance in succession following last Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Saltdean United.
Another boost is the return from injury of Phil Johnson, who came off the bench here. He notched the Robins’ equaliser from the penalty spot with five minutes of regulation time remaining, sending YM goalkeeper Aaron Jeal the wrong way.
Westlake was the man who earned the penalty after having his legs taken out from under him as he was about to shoot.
That came about following a clever header down from another substitute George Galbraith-Gibbons, giving referee Martyn Milligan no choice but to point to the spot.
Johnson and Galbraith-Gibbons’ introductions had come after Jamie Hillwood was forced off with 20 minutes to go following an incident which saw YM reduced to 10 men.
Adam Hunt was the man to see red after he produced a horror tackle high over the ball which left Hillwood unable to continue.
Dan Turner had earlier rattled the stanchion with a powerfully driven free kick which Jeal and everyone else could only watch cannon off his cross bar.
Had that effort from the teenage centre back gone in, it’s no exaggeration to say it would have been one of the best goals the Beacon has ever seen.
Seven minutes after Johnson’s equaliser and Hassocks found a late, late winner with the game in stoppage time. Young Galbraith-Gibbons was the scorer, heading home for his first senior goal since an equally unlikely winner away at Chichester City in April 2018.
It came as Hassocks won a succession of corners once the 90 minutes was up which YM struggled to clear effectively. Eventually, one was swung over which Turner headed back across goal to Galbraith-Gibbons, who had the task of nodding past Jeal while completely unmarked front and centre of the goal.
It was a big moment for Galbraith-Gibbons. He leads the scoring charts for the Under 23s this season, but has found senior opportunities limited over the past couple of years since bursting onto the scene as the Under 18’s top scorer with 27 goals in 19 games in their historic treble winning 2017-18 campaign.
Galbraith-Gibbons and Turner weren’t the only teenagers impressing – Hassocks also gave a full debut to 19-year-old Harvey Ransome who gave a decent account of himself in midfield.
Hassocks: Charlie Pugh; Harvey Blake, Dan Jacques, Dan Turner, Jack Troak; Harvey Ransome, Harvey Enticknap; Jamie Hillwood, James Westlake, James Littlejohn; Liam Benson.
Subs: Phil Johnson, George Galbraith-Gibbons, Luke Marshall (used), Louis Pople, Phil Wickwar (unused).
