Robins maintain 100 percent start by hitting Seaford for six
In a more even game than Hassocks Ladies have experienced to date this season, they still excelled by recording a 6-0 league victory in their first home game of the season at the Beacon against a hardworking Seaford Town.
Despite the manager’s plea that the Robins start at a higher tempo than in the previous weeks, the first few minutes were fairly even with Claire Stevens having to concede an early corner.
However, normal service was soon resumed and a Katherine Chappell shot was blocked in the 12th minute.
Four minutes later and a pinpoint Kirsten Mair corner led to a scramble. The ball was returned to Mair and her effort ended up going just wide of the post.
Yet another excellent Mair corner appeared to be going directly in but was cleared from virtually below the bar.
In the 20th minute Emma Flin had an effort just wide and soon thereafter an amazing goalmouth scramble was cleared.
Having been kept out for 29 minutes, Hassocks finally took the lead when Mair set up top scorer Chappell to finish neatly.
Seaford briefly threatened with two corners in succession. The first was headed clear by Stevens and the second needed a goalmouth clearance by Flin.
Katie Read then had to make a great tackle which not only stopped Seaford having an opportunity, but it also gave the Robins a chance to launch a counter attack.
The Seaford keeper made a great claim from a Mair free kick and it looked like the sides would head into the interval with just the one goal separating them.
Hassocks though managed to extend their lead just before half time with a second goal. A clever pass from Chappell gave Maddie Cannon the chance to slot home.
The manager made a change for the second half with Jodie Johanson replacing Holly Webb, who had performed admirably in midfield.
There was also a tactical adjustment. Cannon and Mia Pordage swapped positions with Pordage leading the attack and Cannon dropping back into midfield.
This switch almost paid instant dividends with Cannon and Pordage combining to set up Mair for a shot which needed to be well saved.
In the 57th minute, a Flin free kick was played to Chappell whose quick turn and shot rocketed home off the underside of the bar giving the keeper no chance, making it 3-0 to the Robins.
Read then showed a good turn of speed to cover a rare Seaford break away. A minute later and a superb pass from Johanson enabled Pordage to round the keeper and score the fourth goal.
Pordage scored her second of the afternoon in the 71st minute, latching onto a clever Mair through to race clean through and make it 5-0 to Hassocks.
Webb was brought back on in place of Read who had fully contributed to a very organised defence which had rarely been threatened.
Tallie Bright had worked tirelessly in midfield, no more so than when winning a corner out of nothing. Although said corner was cleared, it eventually resulted in the Robins being awarded a free kick being in a dangerous central position 20 yards from goal.
Mair nonchalantly placed the kick into the top corner to round off the scoring with the sixth goal. Hassocks then relaxed slightly and Seaford had two shots within a minute, one requiring a strong save by Sarah Chappell to preserve the clean sheet.
The Robins nearly scored a seventh but a brilliant save from the visiting goalkeeper denied an on target effort from Mair following an intricate move involving Johanson and Mair.
With a final score of 6-0, the performance showed the Hassocks players at their best against a team who would have been expected to make a closer match.
The Robins’ midfielders and forwards always looked dangerous and there were many excellent passing moves. The back three of Flin, Stevens and Read – and Webb when she entered the game for the second half – were calm and in control throughout the 90 minutes.
Hassocks are next in action on Sunday 6th November away at Pagham.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Claire Stevens, Katie Read, Kirsten Mair, Emma Flin, Tallie Bright, Holly Webb, Jess Craig, Mia Pordage, Maddie Cannon, Katherine Chappell.
Subs: Jodie Johnanson (used).
