No fans but plenty of entertainment as Robins get up and running in Shield
Whenever Hassocks and Crawley Down Gatwick meet, they tend to put on an entertaining show. Fans may currently be banned, but an empty Haven did not prevent the sides living up to tradition as they kicked off the Southern Combination League Premier Division Supplementary Shield with an enthralling 2-2 draw.
The Robins will play six games in the new competition established to give clubs some silverware to aim for after the regular season was curtailed back in March, facing Down, Horley Town and Lingfield in Group C with the table toppers progressing to the semi finals.
Logic suggests that will be Horley given that Anthony Jupp’s side were challenging for the title before the campaign came to an early and unfinished conclusion for the second year running. It is a view shared by Dave John, who is aiming to use the Shield as a springboard for 2021-22.
“We’ll use it to prepare for next season,” John said before the trip to the Haven. “We’ll play these games and we’ll probably train every week up until next season. We’ve got so many youngsters and they’re so keen to get going that it will do them good, and it will certainly do me good.”
Hassocks named a strong side made up of those youngsters, although there was one interesting name on the Robins’ team sheet. Every season, Burgess Hill Town striker Pat Harding dual-signs with the club where his career began, leading to him making a handful of Hassocks appearances since he departed the Beacon, originally for Eastbourne Borough in 2006.
With the Ryman League done for the year, Hassocks can enjoy calling upon Harding’s services in the Supplementary Shield. This young Robins side will learn much from a player of Harding’s experience, even if it is for just six matches, not to mention the quality he brings.
That was in evidence when he put the Robins ahead in the 68th minute. It was Harding’s 132nd goal in Hassocks colours, 15 years after his 131st arrived in a 5-2 win over Eastbourne Town on the final day of the 2005-06 season.
Also in the Robins’ starting XI were goalkeeper Dave Carruthers, making his first appearance since September after long term injury, and Bradley Tighe, who has returned to the Beacon from Seaford Town. Tighe is a shrewd acquisition, although he was the scorer of an unfortunate own goal equaliser late in the day to cancel out Harding’s strike.
Hassocks began the game brightly and could have gone ahead inside of five minutes. The Robins earned a free kick in a dangerous position right on the edge of the Down box, from which James Littlejohn bent an effort against the post as home goalkeeper Tony Jenner was left rooted to the spot.
Josh Short was an industrious presence in midfield for Hassocks with one break forward leaving him in on goal with 25 minutes played. Rather aptly on Grand National Day, Short stumbled and fell at the last before he could get a shot away.
Harvey Enticknap fared a little better when he managed to test Jenner with an outside of the boot effort following a nice link up down the left from Bradley Bant and Jack Troak before Down took the lead rather against the run of play.
There seemed to be little danger from a hopeful host’s through pass which appeared to be going straight to Dan Turner. Somehow though, the ball whizzed under Turner’s foot and that left Ollie Moore in on goal. He made no mistake, beating Carruthers to give the Anvils the advantage with 12 minutes of the first half remaining.
Hassocks nearly had the perfect response when Harding and Enticknap combined to tee up Littlejohn for a great chance which was put the wrong side of the post. Harding then decided to let one go from 25 yards but it whistled agonisingly over Jenner’s crossbar.
Despite the Hassocks pressure, Down managed to take their lead into the break. It did not last much longer however as Turner made amends by levelling the tie four minutes after the restart. A free kick out wide resulted in Alfie Loversidge whipping over an excellent cross for Turner to meet with a towering header past Jenner.
Hassocks blazed two more good opportunities over in quick succession around the hour mark. Troak’s miss came from a position where it looked easier to score and Short fancied his chances from distance, only for his 30 yarder to fly too high.
Seven minutes later and Short’s next involvement led to the Robins’ second. His driving runs from midfield had been causing Down problems all afternoon and on this occasion, he managed to break through the home defence to slip in Harding who finished with aplomb.
Hassocks looked content to see out the game after that as both teams began tiring – understandable after three months of no competitive action.
The Robins would have come away with the three points had it not been for Tighe’s luckless effort to clear with 10 minutes remaining. Down substitute Tiago Andrade hit a hopeful shot goalwards which Tighe managed to slash in off his shin at the near post.
Hassocks: Dave Carruthers; Jack Gardner, Dan Turner, Bradley Tighe, Bradley Bant; Alfie Loversidge, Harvey Enticknap, Josh Short, Jack Troak; James Littlejohn, Pat Harding.
Subs: Louis Pittock, Charlie Tuck (used), Ben Hicks, Luke Marshall, Phil Wickwar (unused).
