Below par Robins are no match for Wembley bound Littlehampton
FA Vase finalists Littlehampton Town showed why they have become the first ever Southern Combination League side to reach the Wembley showpiece by hammering Hassocks in front of the biggest Beacon crowd of the season.
The Marigolds ran out 6-2 winners to remain two points ahead of Saltdean United at the head of the Premier Division with three matches to play in a title race which looks set to go down to the wire.
Littlehampton are undoubtedly the best side the Robins have faced this season. What might stop them claiming the championship is that they still have their eyes on four different pieces of silverware.
As well as the league title and the Vase, they will return to the Beacon on May Bank Holiday Monday to take on Newhaven in the Peter Bentley League Cup final.
That may not be their only repeat visit to Mid Sussex over the next few weeks either. On Tuesday night, the Marigolds face Chichester City in the quarter finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup. The winners will have a trip to Hassocks in the final four.
The Robins know that whoever they face out of Littlehampton or Chi, they will have their work cut out in reaching a first ever final in senior football.
This season though has been a relative success for Brad Sweetman and his squad. Premier Division survival was the aim and although Hassocks lost on the day, defeat for Loxwood against Saltdean means the Robins cannot now finish in the bottom two.
After a slow and troublesome start in which relegation looked a real possibility, the young Hassocks head coach and his players have grown into their roles to the point where they can now compete with most teams in the top flight.
Most being the operative word, because when Littlehampton are in this sort of form they are difficult to live with.
Sweetman stuck with the same starting XI who had all-but ended Newhaven’s faint title hopes when drawing 1-1 at Fort Road in their last fixture a fortnight ago.
Hassocks knew that they would need to give a similar faultless display to that effort down on the banks of the Ouse if they were to impose themselves again on the championship race.
Unfortunately for the Robins, they ended up having a bit of an off-day, giving away two cheap goals in the space of three minutes midway through the first half which set the tone for the afternoon. Aaron Capon was the first grateful recipient on 20 minutes before Dion Jarvis doubled the advantage on 23.
In the corresponding September fixture between these sides at the Sportsfield, Hassocks had rallied from 2-0 down to level the tie before succumbing to a battling 4-2 defeat.
Any hopes of a similar story were dashed two minutes after the interval. Alfie Loversidge conceded possession with a loose pass and half time substitute Zack Harris punished the mistake with a cracking finish which gave Alex Harris no chance.
Sam Smith pulled one back for the Robins on 58 when Littlehampton failed to clear a corner and the bustling forward bundled home.
It was poor defending from the Marigolds. Hassocks were equally guilty of that just three minutes later when Lewis Jenkins was left unmarked from six yards out to scuff a weak effort past Harris.
That made it 4-1 for anyone struggling to keep up. Littlehampton goal number five arrived despite the best efforts of Dan Turner, who won a succession of headers and blocks whilst left almost alone by a defence which had gone worryingly AWOL. The visitors eventually took advantage of the opportunity via captain Jordan Clark.
Harris made it 6-1 with eight minutes to go, after which there was still time for Hassocks to find a second consolation.
Referee Neil Wallace pointed to the spot, awarding the Robins a penalty. Nobody seemed entirely sure what offence had been committed, but that was of no concern to Jack Troak who buried his kick to make it nine goals in 20 appearances since returning from injury midway through the campaign.
The final score from Loxwood did at least raise spirits amongst the home contingent, as did the news that £340 had been raised on the day for St Peter & St James Hospice.
Those generous donations from both Robins and Littlehampton fans were in support of Hassocks stalwart Spencer Slaughter and his fiancée Megan, who were running the Brighton Marathon the following day in support of the charity.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Arthur Rawlingson, Dan Turner, Luke Marshall, Jack Baden; Alfie Loversidge, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Jack Troak; Sam Smith, Josh Short.
Subs: Bradley Bant, Alfie Edmeads, Joe Bull (used), Wes Tighe, Phil Wickwar (unused).
