Crawley Down Gatwick fly through in Senior Cup at expense of Robins
Given their struggling Premier Division form, it seems safe to suggest that Hassocks were never likely to go far in any knockout competition this season.
It might have been nice for the Beacon faithful however if the Robins had managed to win a game in at least one of the four cups they have already entered.
Instead, they have exited the FA Cup, FA Vase, Peter Bentley League Cup and now the Sussex Senior Cup at the first opportunity. The Robins have only the league and the RUR Charity Cup left to play in and we have not even reached Halloween season yet.
Crawley Down Gatwick became the latest opponent to progress at the expense of the Robins. The free-scoring Anvils were not as free-scoring as they have been in the Premier Division, but they still had enough about them to win through 2-0 to the second round of a competition they reached the Amex final of a decade ago when an Isthmian League outfit.
You have to go back to the 1993 to find the last time a Southern Combination League side – Wick – lifted the Senior Cup. Saltdean United in 1997 are the most recent finalists.
The chances of Hassocks or Down breaking the league’s near-30 year duck in the competition are extremely slim and that was reflected by both managers taking the opportunity to rest players, the Senior Cup clearly not at the forefront for their minds.
For Hassocks, that meant Bradley Bant and Connor Bradley dropping down to the bench and teenagers Jack Gardner and Luke Marshall missing out completely.
In came Jordan Badger, Spencer Slaughter for his first start since returning to Hassocks from Loxwood, and Lucas Tyrrell for a full debut. Alex Harris also took over from the unavailable Charlie Pugh in goal.
Down meanwhile could have rocked up with four faces familiar to Hassocks fans in their starting line up having lured several big-name players to the Haven from the Beacon over the past two summers.
The Robins were no doubt grateful to see just two in the Down XI – Will Broomfield and last season’s Hassocks top scorer of 16 goals in 20 games, Charlie Pitcher. Harvey Blake and the Premier Division’s second-leading goal getter Phil Johnson were both rested.
Johnson’s absence perhaps went part of the way towards explaining why a Down side who are going at an a run rate of over three goals per top flight game so far only managed two against a leaky Hassocks defence.
Most would have been expecting a goal fest here given that this particular fixture has garnered a reputation as one of the most entertaining on the Sussex non-league circuit in recent seasons.
82 goals have been plundered in 20 previous meetings in senior football between Down and the Robins at an average of four a game, including 25 in the past five meetings.
Amongst the more ridiculous score lines of the past six years are 5-3 and 6-4 wins for Hassocks, whilst two Supplementary Shield matches last April yielded 10 goals.
Although there was plenty of honest endeavour from both, this was a slightly dull affair in comparison. Down took the lead seven minutes before half time.
A huge ball over the top put Pitcher clear and once he was hauled down by Charlie Tuck, referee Peter Dingle had little option but to point to the spot. With no Johnson, Oli Leslie stepped up to put the visitors 1-0 ahead going into the break.
A first half injury denied Down the services of Michael Belli but his replacement Luca Intelligenza ended up being the best player on the pitch in the second half, helping his side gain control of the midfield.
Hassocks though kept plugging away and were not out of the game until the final five minutes when Down added their second.
Leslie again was the man on target, this time heading home a cross after the Anvils caught Hassocks on the counter when the Robins were pushing forward in the hope of taking the tie to extra time.
There were reasons to be encouraged for Brad Sweetman and his players, not least because they contained Pitcher reasonably well and prevented a Down front line who are very dangerous even without Johnson from running wild.
Hassocks now have to take those positives into a weekend meeting with Loxwood, one of only four sides below them in the Premier Division table. Time for the Robins to concentrate on the league – and getting out of the mire.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Bradley Tighe, Charlie Tuck, Jordan Badger, Andy Whittingham; James Westlake, Spencer Slaughter, Josh Short, Lucas Tyrrell; Alfie Loversidge, Joe Bull.
Subs: Bradley Bant, Connor Bradley, Lewis Beebee (used), Arthur Rawlingson, Harvey Parker (unused).
