Hassocks twice recover to deny Common a winning homecoming
For the first time in over four years, Little Common played a league game at their Recreation Ground. Hassocks were not the most obliging of party guests, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw and deny the Green Lane Boys a win on their long-awaited homecoming.
The last time Common had taken to their own patch for Southern Combination action was April 2017, spending nearly half-a-decade ground sharing 12 miles away at Eastbourne United’s Oval due to the Recreation Ground not having the required grading to host Premier Division football.
An intrigued crowd of 184 turned out to check out the improved facilities – including two new stands – delivered thanks to the hard work of everyone behind the scenes at Common.
Those in attendance were suitably impressed by both the upgrades and the football, an entertaining 90 minutes that ebbed and flowed.
Common were determined to give their fans something to celebrate on their return but Hassocks have developed a mean streak in recent months.
This was undoubtedly a game the Robins would have lost in the autumn; not now though, a run of four wins, four draws and two defeats from their last 10 matches instilling new belief and confidence in Brad Sweetman’s team that they can compete with most teams in the league.
Despite having gone through a grueling 120 minutes on a heavy pitch when eliminating Crawley Down Gatwick from the RUR Cup in extra time on Tuesday night, Sweetman limited his changes with only two from the side who saw off the Anvils.
Of those, Charlie Tuck had played all but the opening half hour against Down after replacing Arthur Rawlingson, who had only suitably recovered from his midweek knock to sit on the bench here.
The other change saw the evergreen Phil Gault available for his first start since November at the expense of young Jude Wallis.
Hassocks had expected a strong start from Common and they were duly swamped from the off by the hosts, eventually leading to a 13th minute opener.
Sam Ellis swung over a corner and the Robins’ marking was poor, leaving Common top scorer Lewis Hole to head unmarked past Alex Harris.
Hassocks had to weather more of the storm before they could make an impression on the game, Johnny Walker with a long distance effort nearly as strong as his namesake’s whiskey being followed by a similar drive from Liam Ward which had Harris a little concerned.
The Robins’ first venture into the Common half came when Josh Short worked himself into a decent position, only to drill a low one across the area that was well held by home goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell.
Captain Jack Troak was next to threaten. Alfie Loversidge and James Westlake built an opportunity for Troak to scamper down the left but his shot was just wide of the post.
Hassocks’ first equaliser of the afternoon arrived on 26 minutes. James Westlake did well to get possession to Gault just inside the Common area.
Gault had his back to goal but he turned on a sixpence, curling an effort out of the reach of Cruttwell to nestle in the bottom corner via the upright.
Things tapered off a little after that, hardly a surprise given the breakneck speed that the opening 30 minutes had been played at.
Normal service was however resumed at the start of the second half when both sides had opportunities to take the lead inside the first seven minutes.
Hassocks were first to go close, Short heading a Loversidge delivery wide. Common were not so wasteful, new signing Freddie Warren capitalising on a mistake in the Robins defence to square across goal for Hole to sidefoot home his second and restore the hosts’ lead.
Common should have added a third almost straight from the restart. They regained possession and headed up field through Sam Ellis.
Amazingly, nobody in claret and blue could get on the end of Ellis’ fizzed cross which only needed a touch to send it past Harris.
Hassocks punished that by equalising again with 13 minutes left to play. Short picked up possession in midfield and drove at the Common defence.
As they backed off, the space opened up for him to hit a low effort from 25 yards which found the bottom corner.
Common finished the stronger – hardly a surprise given the tiredness Hassocks must have been feeling following their Tuesday night exertions – but the visitors stayed strong in the face of a number of hopeful balls tossed into the box, Dan Turner heading clear anything that came his way.
There was one late scare when Common might have been awarded a penalty. Half-hearted appeals from home connections told their own story about that, with the draw being the correct outcome in the end.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Charlie Tuck, Dan Turner, Bradley Tighe, Jack Baden; Alfie Loversidge, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Jack Troak; Josh Short; Phil Gault.
Subs: Lewis Beebee (Gault 67), Joe Bull, Arthur Rawlingson, Jude Wallis, Harvey Parker (unused).
