STAGS PUNISH HASSOCKS FOR LEAVING THEIR STARS AT HOME
Judging by the players that Hassocks left out of their Sussex Senior Cup first round tie at Midhurst & Easebourne, this is a competition that the Robins cared little for this season.
Charlie Pitcher, Jack Troak, Bradley Bant and Phil Gault could all spend the evening in the comfort of their own homes as they were spared the long journey to the Rotherfield.
Will Broomfield made the trip to Midhurst but that was to watch from the stands rather than influencing proceedings on the pitch and James Littlejohn and Jack Gardner were both rested among a bench of only four.
The result was a 3-0 victory for Midhurst and another embarrassing cup exit at the hands of lower division opponents for the Robins’ impressive collection.
Of course, should Hassocks go onto pick up points from their next two Premier Division fixtures away at early season strugglers Broadbridge Heath and East Preston, then the decision to rest so many key players will have been justified.
On the other hand, momentum is a big thing in football and Hassocks were starting to build some after impressive back-to-back victories against Pagham and Peacehaven & Telscombe.
If defeat against Midhurst brings a shuddering halt to the roll that the Robins looked to be on, then deliberately sacrificing this competition will look like a questionable decision – especially if the Stags are given a bumper payday in the next round via a home draw with one of the big boys of Sussex football.
Another way to look at such wholesale changes is that they presented opportunities for Hassocks’ fringe players to stake a claim for more regular action.
None of them really did, which was arguably the most disappointing aspect of the evening – and a point hammered home by assistant Mark Enticknap in a scathing half time team talk, delivered on the pitch due to current Covid-19 restrictions preventing away teams from using the changing rooms at the interval.
Hassocks were already 3-0 down by that point, having conceded three very soft goals inside the opening 34 minutes. Midhurst took the lead with the game just four minutes old. It was a goal that set the tone for the rest of the evening really, gifted away by some atrocious Hassocks marking.
A corner was swung over from the left with Harry Giles unmarked front and centre of the goal to turn a free header past Hassocks’ Under 18s goalkeeper Jayden Dunkley, who was making his senior debut. This would turn out to be quite a baptism of fire for young Dunkley.
The lively Alfie Loversidge almost notched an instant reply when he turned in the area and got a low shot away which was pushed around the post by Josh Bird in the home goal.
More slack marking from a corner nearly gave the Stags their second on eight minutes but this time, Dunkley did just enough to grab the loose ball after another Giles free header from a corner caused chaos in the box.
No prizes for guessing how Midhurst’s second was scored when it did eventually arrive with 22 minutes on the clock. Yes, it was from another free header as Lewis Hyde this time powered past Dunkley to double the hosts’ advantage. Giles added the third just past the half hour mark with a shot from distance which appeared to be caught by the wind to deceive Dunkley.
Hassocks did at least dig in their heels after that. Former Burgess Hill Town right back Drew Matthews bent a free kick just off target after Harvey Enticknap was brought down on the edge of the area and Joe Bull drilled a low ball across goal which nobody could provide the finishing touch to.
Loversidge then timed a run to perfection to spring the offside trap and latch onto a Josh Short through ball before rounding Bird, only to see his effort from a tight angle rattle the far post.
Hassocks were clearly fired up by the stinging rebuke from their assistant manager at the break and that led to a fiery start to the second half. Jake Chadwick got stamped on by Hyde early doors to spark a melee which saw George Brown enter the book.
Chadwick then put in a nasty challenge, leading to Robbie Tambling covering 30 yards faster than Usain Bolt to send Chadwick flying through the air. He joined Brown in the yellow card club for his troubles.
Brown glanced a header from a Matthews free kick wide of the post on the hour mark and that was about it for Hassocks in terms of what they did attack wise in the second half, even after throwing Littlejohn on.
Loversidge exited proceedings gingerly following a nasty collision with Bird after both players challenged for a 50-50 whilst Hassocks were lucky the scoreline didn’t get any worse, Giles skewing off target two good chances to nab a hat-trick before Dunkley saved well down to his left in injury time.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley; Drew Matthews, Dan Turner, Ben O’Leary, Andy Whittingham; Alfie Loversidge, Harvey Enticknap, Jake Chadwick, Josh Short, Joe Bull; George Brown.
Subs: James Littlejohn (Chadwick 60’), Jack Gardner (Enticknap 68’), Ben Hicks (Loversidge 74’), Phil Wickwar (unused).
