Plucky Robins unable to cause an upset against Uxbridge
Facing promotion hopefuls from the Isthmian League South Central Division meant it was always unlikely that Hassocks would end their nine year wait for a place in the first qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
The Robins though could be pleased with their efforts against Uxbridge at the Beacon, where a 3-1 defeat to exit the competition was no disgrace.
Hassocks were in the game as late as the 93rd minute. The Uxbridge bench were begging for referee Stephen Ryan to blow up, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the more their players time wasted, the longer injury time would be prolonged. We ended up with eight minutes, for those keeping count.
There was a certain sense of irony that it was Juwon Akitunde who scored the killer third on the counter, he having been one of the culprits when it came to tying to run down the clock.
Akitunde tore his shirt off in celebration after netting, the relief obvious amongst the way contingent at finally putting away their plucky opponents. Uxbridge deserved to progress but this was not the routine tie a lot of people were expecting.
Hassocks had made fast starts in both their victories on the road in the past seven days, racing into 2-0 leads inside of 15 minutes to win at AFC Uckfield Town and Alfold.
Uxbridge may have provided opposition of a much better quality than anything in the Southern Combination League, but that did not cause the Robins to rethink their approach.
Having survived the impressive Akintunde just failing to get on the end of a cross straight from kick off, the five minute mark brought two good opportunities in 60 seconds for Hassocks to take the lead.
Alex Bygraves rose highest at the back post to meet a Lewis Westlake free kick with a towering header. It needed a last ditch block on the line from the knee of Elliott Pooley to keep it out, although that did not stop half-hearted penalty appeals.
A corner resulted from that which Westlake again delivered with unerring accuracy. Bradley Tighe was the recipient, heading just wide.
Already, it looked like Westlake delivering into the box could give Hassocks joy. And so it came to pass on 18 minutes when the Robins took the lead.
Harvey Blake was released down the right and despite his low cross being teasing, it looked like bread and butter for Uxbridge goalkeeper Tyler Tobin.
Visiting captain Andrew O’Brien did not seemingly trust Tobin however, electing to hook away before his number one could gather.
The clearance fell to Westlake, who delivered a curling ball back into the box. Phil Johnson rose alongside Maurice Nugent.
Who got the final touch is up for debate. Johnson peeled away celebrating, Nugent looked crestfallen and his teammates questioning. One for the dubious goals panel to decide.
Going behind shocked Uxbridge into life. Within four minutes they were level. David Sota hit a hopeful cross into the box which Alex Harris misjudged in a deceptive wind, leaving him helpless as the ball sailed over his head and in at the back post.
Hassocks were soon back on the front foot. Another Westlake free kick caused problems for Tobin. His unconvincing punch away eventually wound itself to Tom Frankland 25 yards out.
Frankland went for a goal and it required a much stronger stop from Tobin at full stretch clawing the ball over the bar to prevent the Robins retaking the lead.
Akintunde had the ball in the back of the net five minutes before half time via a glancing header, only for the assistant referee to rule it out for a tight offside.
The second half lacked the entertainment of the first, largely because Uxbridge upped their game, took control and waited patiently for a chance to present itself.
It eventually arrived on 56 minutes. A lovely passing segment started by Jack Beadle went through Lonit Talla, Alan Hedley and that man Akitunde.
Hassocks had not watched out that Beadle was about and he ghosted in unnoticed, finishing off the move he started by beating Harris one-on-one.
The Robins fashioned three chances to equalise over the next 30 minutes. Yet another Westlake corner led to chaos and confusion, needing to be headed off the line by Alan Hedley after Tobin appeared to be dragged to the ground by his own teammate.
Substitute Jamie Wilkes next showed the sort of hold up play you expect from a tall striker, his clever touch finding James Westlake.
The Hassocks head coach played into the path of Frankland, but again a curling 25 yarder from the Robins right winger was parried away by a stretching Tobin.
Wilkes headed a difficult chance from a Jack Troak cross over as the game entered the additional eight minutes.
The third of those saw Akitunde wrap things up when sweeping home following substitute Leonard Farhall’s run and cross on the counter. The Robins were out but certainly not down after an encouraging display.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Harvey Blake, Alex Bygraves, Bradley Tighe, Sam Cash; Tom Frankland, James Westlake, Mike Williamson, Lewis Westlake, Jack Troak; Joe Bull; Phil Johnson.
Subs: Jamie Wilkes, Mike Williamson, Daniel Reid (used), Sam Rogers, Will Broomfield, Sam Smith, Arthur Rawlingson (unused).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Bradley Tighe.
