Hassocks left wondering how they lost under the Little Common lights
Nobody measures xG in the Southern Combination League. Which is just as well, because Hassocks would have been thoroughly depressed by expected goals compared to the actual outcome from their trip to Little Common.
The Robins were miles the better side. They played some excellent football. The only thing letting them down was their finishing.
Chance after chance went begging. It was in stark contrast to Hassocks’ last outing, a clinical display which put seven past Roffey on Bank Holiday Monday.
Little Common meanwhile managed two efforts on target all evening. Both went in, sending Hassocks to a 2-0 defeat and ending their hopes of winning four Premier Division matches in a row for the first time since 2018.
Unsurprisingly, James Westlake made no changes from the starting XI who hit that baker’s half seven against the Boars.
Fast stars have been a theme of the Westlake Era so far. Hassocks took the lead inside five minutes in each of those victories over Roffey, Alfold and AFC Uckfield Town.
The Robins nearly added another early goal here. Three minutes had elapsed when an aggressive press won Hassocks possession in midfield.
Head coach Westlake threaded in Leon Turner, only for the winger to see his shot repelled by Common goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell.
That stop looked even more important when Common took the lead three minutes later. Sam Ellis escaped down the left channel and his pull back was swept in from close range by Lewis Hole.
It would be another 71 minutes before Common mustered another opportunity. They would score that one, too. In between, Hassocks produced a catalogue of misses which ranged from the unfortunate to the downright bizarre.
The first came just three further minutes from Common taking the lead. Lewis Westlake swung over a corner which found its way to Sam Cash at the back post, who somehow contrived to miss from four yards out.
A bobble did Phil Johnson just as he was about to pull the trigger with Hassocks’ next chance, the ball flying over from 20 yards after skipping up unexpectedly.
Then it was the turn of the woodwork to get in the way. Some brilliant passing football released Mike Williamson gliding into a wide position.
He played a visionary pass into James Westlake to hit a rasping effort. It beat Cruttwell but not the crossbar, which was left shaking for sometime after.
Williamson was a little too high with an effort from 20 yards after enterprising play from Troak on the half hour mark.
Home player-manager Russell Eldridge became one of three Common players to enter the book for clever fouls to stop Hassocks breaking.
Johnson had skinned Eldridge on halfway and was looking to break when Eldridge tried to swap shirts with him, leaving referee Perry Hart no choice but to flash a yellow.
Two minutes later and Hassocks should have made more of the opportunity presented by a poor back header from Adam Smith intended for Cruttwell.
Turner intercepted and had passing options in the middle. Instead, he took the decision to shoot from a tight angle with the resulting shot failing to trouble the Common goal.
The lively Turner did better with his next opportunity, cutting inside and hitting a crisp shot which required a good stop from Cruttwell.
Jamie Bunn was shown a yellow for two swipes at the lively Harvey Blake just before the break as Hassocks continued to cause problems right up until the half time whistle.
Four minutes into the second half and Johnson skipped around Eldridge, who dared not foul for fear of a second yellow. Johnson’s luck was clearly not in however as again, a divot skipped the ball up as he was about to shoot, sending the effort from 18 yards flying over the bar.
The hour mark saw Blake miss at the back post from four yards with a rebound after Turner had blazed through the Common defence.
Johnny Walker picked up the third Common booking of the night for a cynical trip, followed by Cash hitting a weak effort from 23 yards.
A rare foray forward from Common brought them their first corner of the night on 77 minutes. When Lewis Parsons stole a gap to head home and double the hosts’ advantage, you knew it was not going to be Hassocks’ evening. If that had not already been apparent.
The Robins to their credit kept going. They mustered a couple more chances, the best of which needed a desperate goal line clearance from Parsons amidst a scramble.
The loose ball fell straight to substitute Joe Bull, who was making his 100th Hassocks appearance. Bull could not mark the milestone with a goal, firing wide. It was just one of those nights for the Robins.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Harvey Blake, Aex Bygraves, Bradley Tighe, Sam Cash; James Westlake, Mike Williamson, Lewis Westlake; Leon Turner, Phil Johnson, Jack Troak.
Subs: Liam Benson (J Westlake 73), Joe Bull (Turner 80), Jamie Wilkes, Sam Smith, Will Broomfield (unused).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Lewis Westlake
