Hassocks shock champions Heath to give themselves a big semi
It would seem that Hassocks Under 23s rather like a shoot out. Two of their matches in the Southern Combination Under 23 League Cup have been decided on spot kicks and the Robins have now won both.
Their latest success was a 3-0 penalty victory away at Broadbridge Heath following a 2-2 draw. It takes them into the semi finals of the competition, where they will face Alfold. Win that and the Robins will be into the final for the first time in their history.
90 minutes of enthralling football at High Wood Hill Sports Ground more than lived up to pre-game expectations surrounding a clash between North Division champions Heath and runners up Hassocks.
The Bears have cantered to the title, unbeaten with one league game still to play. Win that and they will finish eight points clear of Hassocks, a hugely impressive gap in a 16 fixture season.
Hassocks knew they would have to be at their best if they were to stand a chance of eliminating Heath. They made a decent start to proceedings, only to get caught on the break when Conor Smith opened the scoring with 20 minutes played.
From that point on, Heath were marginally the better side. The Bears enjoyed more possession and tested Jayden Dunkley in the Hassocks goal, the Under 18s number one standing in for the absent Harvey Parker.
That is not to say Hassocks were not without chances in the first half. Raging Joe Bull created a couple of openings with driving runs into a Heath defence who did not seem entirely comfortable in dealing with such a direct threat.
Hassocks equalised for the first time on 70 minutes via an excellent short corner routine. It created confusion and space in the Heath box with Luke Marshall the profiteer for his third goal of the season.
With no extra time played in the League Cup, both sides were keen to avoid the lottery of penalties and that meant they went hell for leather at each other over the final 20 minutes.
Plenty of half chances came and went but it was Hassocks who had the clearest. Lucas Tyrrell was enjoying himself on his first start since November following long term injury and he was denied a returning goal by the cross bar.
The rebound fell to Jordan Badger who was almost caught by surprise, the result being that he topped the ball miles over.
It then looked like Hassocks had thrown it away in the 89th minute. The Robins know all too well the threat that Lewis Croal poses.
Croal has scored many times for Heath against Hassocks at first team level in recent years and yet they presented him with the sort of soft goal a striker of his ilk eats for breakfast.
Hassocks had little choice now but to try and find an equaliser. Virtually every player was thrown forward and both full backs pushed as far up the pitch as possible.
In the final seconds, Jack Baden found himself in a good crossing position and his delivery was perfect for the towering figure of Badger to find the back of the net.
Hassocks were spot on in the subsequent shoot out, converting all three of their penalties. Heath hit the post with their first, the bar with their second and then Dunkley kept out the third having guessed right for every spot kick.
No date has yet been set for the trip to Alfold in the next round but as a wise man once said – never waste a big semi.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Jack Smith, Ben Hicks, Jack Baden, Wes Tighe, Luke Marshall, Marshall Smith, Lucas Tyrrell, Jordan Badger, Archie Russell, Joe Bull.
Subs: Jamie Douglass, Archie Hill (used), George Mercer, Jay Hudson (unused).
