Robins do everything but score in more Peter Bentley Cup misery
The United Kingdom has rattled through seven Prime Ministers since Hassocks last progressed beyond the quarter finals of the Peter Bentley League Cup.
John Major. Tony Blair. Gordon Brown. David Cameron. Theresa May. Boris Johnson. And now Liz Truss have all occupied Number 10 since the 1996-97 season and the Robins’ one and only foray to the final four.
Hassocks will be waiting at least a year into Ms Truss’ time in office to improve their awful record in the competition after they were eliminated at the second round stage by AFC Varndeanians at the Beacon.
It finished 2-0 to the visitors in a match which was almost a carbon copy of the Robins’ Friday night defeat at Little Common – same scoreline, same head scratching from Hassocks players, management and fans as to how they had not won.
The hosts were the better side, creating numerous opportunities over the 90 minutes. For the second game running, they could not make one stick on the scoreboard.
Varndeanians in contrast took advantage of a gift early in the second half to score with their first meaningful shot on target.
They doubled the advantage with their second shot on target 10 minutes later – and that proved enough to secure a home tie with Loxwood in round three.
James Westlake shuffled his pack, giving starts to Will Broomfield, Joe Bull, Tom Frankland, Liam Benson and Jamie Wilkes.
Jack Troak, Phil Johnson, Bradley Tighe, Sam Cash and Lewis Westlake were all rested. In Westlake’s absence, Alex Bygraves captained Hassocks for the first time.
Nobody was really talking about the wholesale changes before the game. Instead, the focus was on the surprise presence of Pat Harding in a matchday squad for the first time since re-joining the Robins from Burgess Hill Town in the summer.
Harding has recovered more quickly than expected from the broken ribs he sustained in a pre-season friendly against Whitehawk.
He came off the bench for the final 30 minutes to quite the reception from the Beacon faithful. Harding’s return is timely given the struggles Hassocks have experienced putting the ball in the back of the net during their two recent goalless outings.
The Robins looked particularly dangerous against Varndeanians in wide positions during a first half in which Alex Harris was virtually a spectator.
Harvey Blake and Frankland dovetailed well down the right. Leon Turner has been a lively presence on that flank so far this season but he showed he can be just as threatening on the left, where he was switched in the absence of Troak.
The first clear cut chance of the game fell to head coach Westlake on 10 minutes. He defied his diminutive frame to meet a whipped Frankland cross with a header just wide.
12 minutes later and Blake and Frankland exchanged a series of passes. That created the space Frankland needed to deliver a low cross towards the front post.
Benson timed his run to perfection to get across Ollie Stevenson, only to place his sweeping finish into the side netting.
Blake was the next to cross on the half hour mark, hanging up a ball to the back post. Benson produced a startling leap and a brilliant header which required an even better save from Keen Ancell tipping over.
Ancell next kept out a Wilkes volley at full stretch. The tall striker had set himself up with lovely close control on the edge of the box after a Turner run and cross.
All of the Robins’ good first half work was undone within 60 seconds of the restart. Mike Williamson slipped when attempting to pass back to Harris, Ali Rainford gleefully accepted possession and slotted home.
It was a poor goal to concede. In contrast, not much could be done about Fin Bigg’s strike to make it 2-0 on 56 minutes. The Varndeanians winger cut in from the left and bent a spectacular effort into the far corner.
Between the two goals, Blake hit a drive into the side netting and the rangy Wilkes had an effort blocked by imperious Vs captain Omar Bukleb.
Hassocks responded to falling two behind by rattling the woodwork twice in three minutes. Benson chested down to Turner who hit a fierce volley from 12 yards. Ancell somehow got a touch on the shot to divert it onto the crossbar.
Blake then picked up the ball on the edge of the area, beat one man and cracked a low effort which clipped the outside of the post. Even with 25 minutes still to go at that point, you knew it was going to be one of those nights.
Hassocks used all five of their permitted subs in an attempt to find a way through. Harding looked lively, although it was Sam Smith and Tighe of the replacements who came closest to scoring late on.
Bygraves’ downward header from a corner landed at the feet of Smith on the goal line but the ball got caught, allowing Ancell to grab it.
Tighe then hit an outrageous outside of the boot piledriver from 25 yards which was flicked over the bar by a Varndeanians head with the final touch of the game.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Harvey Blake, Alex Bygraves, Will Broomfield, Joe Bull; Tom Frankland, James Westlake, Mike Williamson, Leon Turner; Jamie Wilkes; Liam Benson.
Subs: Bradley Tighe (Broomfield 57), Pat Harding (Wilkes 60), Danny Reid (Frankland 72), Sam Smith (Benson 79), Sam Rogers (J Westlake 84).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Harvey Blake.
