TESTING START FOR ROBINS AGAINST OUTSTANDING REBELS
Hassocks Ladies could not have asked for a tougher start to the new London & South East Regional Women’s League season.
Worthing won every game they played in 2019-20 before the season was ended prematurely, denying them what would probably have been the league title and a 100% record to go with it.
Ominously for the rest of the league, the Rebels appeared to have become even stronger for the new campaign. Hassocks discovered that to their cost as they were hammered 10-0 visitors to the Beacon who demonstrated a level of skill well above that normally encountered in Division One South.
From the first whistle, Worthing were straight on the front foot with Claire Stevens and debutant Jo Brown both having to make good interceptions for the Robins. There was a brief break into the Rebels’ half but another debutant, Mia Porradge, was just unable to get a shot away.
Worthing took the lead with seven minutes on the clock and it was pretty much the Alamo from that point on. Sarah Chappell prevented a second with an excellent one-on-one save but the visitors did not have to wait long to double their advantage with a second goal arriving with 14 on the clock.
Worthing were more than a little fortunate with how it arrived, their forward taking a tumble in the area to earn a penalty which was confidently despatched past Chappell.
A third goal arrived shortly after and Chappell had to pull off another fine stop to prevent Worthing adding a fourth before the game had even reached the half hour point.
Hassocks nearly forced a goal on 35 when Kirsten Mair’s free kick caused chaos in the Rebels box but there was nobody on hand to provide the touch needed to put it into the back of the Worthing goal.
That chance seemed to galvanise the Robins and the midfield began to see more of the ball with Mair, Katherine Chappell, Gemma Craig, Tallie Bright and Liz King all displaying some nice touches.
Unfortunately, Hassocks struggled to make much headway beyond a well marshalled Worthing defence with Porradge and Jess Craig in attack working hard but struggling to be found.
More heroic defending was needed from Stevens, Brown and Emma Flin to help Hassocks make it to the half without conceding again and there was another good stop from Chappell which kept it at 3-0 to Worthing going into the break.
Hassocks actually began the second half the brighter side, using possession well although they again could not no way to get Porradge or Jess Craig involved.
Once Worthing added their fourth, the floodgates opened and by the time the game reached the hour mark, the Robins found themselves 6-0 behind with two of the goals coming from pinpoint corner deliveries.
Katie Read came on for her Hassocks debut with 67 played but she could not help stem the side and Worthing soon had their second penalty of the afternoon to make it 7-0.
An eighth followed from another corner and Worthing’s ninth came from their third spot kick, the harshest of the lot given that the Hassocks tackle and clearly won the ball and the visiting players barely put up an appeal.
Jodie Johansson came on for Hassocks in between those two goals with Worthing’s 10th arriving late on. It was the best goal of the game too, a wonderful effort from 30 yards which gave Chappell absolutely no chance.
The defeat was Hassocks’ heaviest for some time and although disappointed, the Robins should not be too upset with the final scoreline. Clearly, Worthing are a class side who should comfortably win Division One South, presuming coronavirus does not prevent the season being completed.
The task now for the Robins is to refocus on the task of getting their campaign up and running away at Crawley Wasps next week.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Jo Brown, Claire Stevens, Emma Flin, Tallie Bright, Kirsten Mair, Liz King, Gemma Craig, Katherine Chappell, Jess Craig, Mia Porradge.
Subs: Katie Read, Jodie Johansson (used), Ellie Moquet, Sam Newman, Holly Webb (unused).
