EVEN GAME BUT IT IS RANGERS WHO LEAVE WITH THE POINTS
On the balance of play, Hassocks Ladies’ home game with Parkwood Rangers was about as even a game of football as you will see.
Which is why the Robins were so disappointed to be beaten 3-1 at the Beacon – especially after last week’s excellent first victory of the campaign away at Crawley Wasps.
Hassocks were determined to carry on where they left off and made a fast start to proceedings. Mia Pordage made a nuisance of herself up front almost from the first whistle and she had the first chance of the game when latching onto a long pass from Claire Stevens, only for the Parkwood defence to snuff out the danger.
Rangers began to take control after that with Jo Brown and Stevens both putting in big challenges to concede corners. From the second of those, Hassocks were dealt a real blow when Gemma Craig got injured after Stevens headed clear.
Craig unfortunately had to be substituted, leaving the Robins without a crucial component of their midfield engine room. Sam Newman took her place.
Within two minutes of Craig’s departure, Parkwood took the lead. There was nothing Hassocks could do about it as the midfielder hit an unstoppable effort from distance which flew into the top corner of Sarah Chappell’s goal.
Chappell had to pull off a flying save with 25 minutes on the clock as the Robins continued to feel the effects of the disruption caused by Craig’s withdrawal.
The hosts eventually began to re-establish themselves as the half wore on and a great passing move involving Tallie Bright and Pordage presented Katherine Chappell with a chance but she was denied by an excellent save.
Kirsten Mair was the next to go close, rattling the crossbar with the Rangers goalkeeper well beaten before Emma Flin released Bright whose low cross was scrambled away by the visiting defence. Parkwood broke from there and Liz King had to cover well to eliminate the danger.
Just when it looked like Rangers would make it into the interval with the lead, Hassocks found an equaliser. Bright again went scampering away, this time after being released by Newman and her low cross was met first time by Mair who slotted home.
Hassocks began the second half equally strongly. They had a goal disallowed for offside after five minutes, a pivotal moment as Parkwood took the lead shortly after with another blockbuster effort.
Any hopes Hassocks had of coming back for a second time in the game were dashed five minutes later when Parkwood received a harsh penalty for handball against Stevens.
The decision was probably in line with the current nonsensical guidelines but it was frustrating for the Robins as there was clearly no intent to handle, the arm was only just outside the body and it did not deny a goal scoring opportunity.
Chappell guessed the right way and pulled off a brilliant save from the spot kick but unfortunately, the Parkwood player reacted quickest to slam home the rebound.
That seemed to deflate the Robins and although they never gave up, you sensed that this wasn’t going to be their day. Katie Read beat three Parkwood players on a mazy run towards goal but couldn’t quite get her shot away and Mair tried her luck from distance, only to see the ball lift a little too high over the bar.
Hassocks will know that this was a game they should have got more from, especially given the position of control they were in at the break. In the end, it was a reminder of how football can go against you with bad luck and some bad decisions. The Robins now have to dust themselves down ahead of next Sunday’s Sussex derby at Newhaven.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Claire Stevens, Emma Flin, Jo Brown, Tallie Bright, Kirsten Mair, Liz King, Gemma Craig, Katherine Chappell, Katie Read, Mia Pordage.
Subs: Jodie Johanson, Sam Newman (used), Holly Webb, Ellie Moquet (unused).
