To the nines for relentless Robins who pummel Pevensey in League Cup
Hassocks Ladies continued their fine start to the season with a comprehensive 9-0 victory over Pevensey and Westham in the first round of the Sussex County Women’s League Challenge Cup.
The Robins started brightly and an early effort by Mia Pordage went narrowly over the bar before Katherine Chappell opened the scoring in the fifth minute following good work by Holly Webb.
Hassocks continued to press and a second goal soon followed in the ninth minute. A slide rule pass from Kirsten Mair found Chappell who clinically slotted the ball home again on what was already proving a very fruitful afternoon for the forward.
Next it was Holly Webb who went close. Webb beat the offside flag to shoot just wide of the post. A third goal did not prove to be too far away.
Mair sent over a 12th minute corner and Jess Craig was there to head home. Hassocks were proving to be relentless now. Further chances were created with Mair and Chappell nearly adding to the tally.
Chappell scored the fourth to complete her hat-trick with 17 minutes played, firing home after a corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble.
The Pevensey goalkeeper was working hard to keep the score down with some important saves, including a really good stop to deny Maddie Cannon.
There was little the home number one could do however to prevent two more goals in quick succession moving the Robins further ahead.
Craig headed home again on 29 minutes with Mair producing a brilliant solo effort five minutes later to put Hassocks into a 6-0 lead.
Jodie Johanson was causing havoc with her pace and skill on the right hand side. She went on another great run and cross which was well saved.
Webb had another attempt but could not find the back of the net. Instead, she turned provider for the seventh Hassocks goal with a clever pass to Chappell, who then added her fifth and Hassocks’ eighth just before the break after being set up by Pordage.
An amazing first half of football came to a close with a scoreline which nobody could have predicted before the game. In truth, it could have been even more.
Hassocks made several changes for the start of the second half. Shannon McFadden, Katie Read and Ellie Moquet replaced Pordage, Johanson and Emma Flin.
Sarah Chappell had been a virtual spectator in the Robins goal apart from dealing with a few pass backs. As a result, Chappell was given a run out on the right wing with Moquet taking over the gloves.
Inevitably after such a dominating first half, the intensity lessened slightly as the game wore on. Craig completed a hat-trick of headers to make it 9-0 on 52 minutes from another pinpoint Mair corner, but Hassocks were unable to add to their tally after that.
The continuity was not helped by frequent stoppages, including a five-minute delay caused by an injury to the Pevensey goalkeeper, who surprisingly was able to continue after such lengthy treatment.
Further Hassocks chances came from Craig with a couple of distance efforts which were not far away. Katherine Chappell saw a shot saved with Sarah Chappell firing the rebound across goal.
Pordage and Johanson were brought back on replacing Craig and Jo Brown, who had looked very assured at the back. A Mair thunderbolt crashed against the crossbar and Pordage came close twice. One effort deflected wide for a corner and another shot went just over the bar.
One final opportunity fell to Katherine Chappell who was looking to wrap up a double hat-trick but she was just off target after a nine one-two with McFadden.
The match ended with a totally dominant Hassocks winning 9-0. Every player can be proud of their performance, including the defenders.
Flin, Brown, Claire Stevens, and substitute Katie Read in the second half were not put under too much pressure, but they looked calm and assured throughout.
A special mention must also be made of Craig, who amazingly scored that hat-trick of headers.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Claire Stevens, Kirsten Mair, Emma Flin, Jo Brown, Holly Webb, Jess Craig, Maddie Cannon, Jodie Johanson, Mia Pordage, Katherine Chappell.
Subs: Shannon McFadden, Elie Moquet, Katie Read (used).
