Hassocks kick off frantic February with three points against Alfold
With eight games crammed into the next four weeks, February looks set to be crucial in deciding how high up the Southern Combination League Premier Division table Hassocks finish in James Westlake’s first season in charge.
The Robins got the month off to a good start, winning 2-0 at the Beacon against an Alfold side who have shown a lot of improvement since the November appointment of Jordan Clark as their new manager.
They arrived in Mid Sussex in buoyant mood having won 7-3 against Roffey a week earlier, moving to within three points of climbing above Saltdean United and out of the bottom two.
Hassocks needed to give a professional performance in what was a potential banana skin and that is exactly what they did, edging the first half before taking establishing dominance in the second.
The Robins had been busy on the transfer front in the days leading up to the game, with Westlake bringing in goalkeeper James Shaw from Tooting & Mitcham United and forward Josh Bradley from Steyning Town.
Both came straight into the starting XI and both had a big impact, Shaw showing exemplary handling on his way to keeping a clean sheet and Bradley marking his debut with the Robins’ second goal of the afternoon.
The first half was a very tight affair. Hassocks started brightly with Bradley releasing Phil Johnson down the channel to fire a dangerous cross into the box which nobody could connect with.
More good work from Bradley saw him link up with raging Joe Bull to earn the Robins a corner which came to nothing.
Johnson and Pat Harding then combined nicely for a third early opportunity minutes later but the latter could not get his finish right.
A strong charge down the right from Bradley set up another Hassocks attack which required a George Craig intervention to prevent the hosts making the most it.
Bradley followed that up by showing the defensive side of his game, getting back to make a great recovery tackle as Alfold looked to break.
That was a warning for the Robins over what Fold could do, particularly on the counter where they posed a real threat.
They grew into the game as the half wore on with captain Harry Cole became an increasingly influential figure with a virtuoso midfield display.
Cole was at the heart of Fold’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes, an opportunity which fell to Andrew Demby inside the six yard box. Fortunately for Hassocks, Demby lifted his effort over the bar.
Westlake hit the post direct from a corner shortly before the Hassocks opener arrived two minutes prior to the break.
Sustained pressure on the Alfold goal led to the ball finding its way to Jack Troak on the left hand side of the penalty area.
Troak did fantastically to take on and beat his man, creating the space in which to flash a ball across the face of goal. The luckless Finn Bishop diverted past his own goalkeeper Drew Churchwell and into the back of the net.
Hassocks just about deserved their lead but they came off knowing that there was a lot more work to be done. The Robins have been guilty of sloppy starts and poor second halves in certain games this season.
That was not the case here as they quickly took control with Bradley doubling the lead on 53 minutes via a potential goal of the season contender.
A brilliant sweeping move played out at breakneck speed down the left involving Harding, Johnson and Troak gave Troak the opportunity to cross.
His ball in was pinpoint, finding Bradley ghosting in from the right wing to arrive at the far post and rise highest, heading powerfully past Churchwell.
Seven minutes later and another good chance came the way of Hassocks. Westlake sent a lovely free kick over the head of Shay Matthews to again release Troak.
A teasing cross came in from Troak although this time it was slightly ahead of Johnson, who took the interesting approach of trying to punch the ball into the net.
Johnson was subsequently booked by referee Ian Homewood, who found himself having to deal with a fair amount of nonsense over the course of the game.
As early as the seventh minute, Mr Homewood had to get his yellow out when Alfold’s Callum Kilkenny produced a quite spectacular dive.
Shaw also entered the book with 13 left to play after Mr Homewood had seen enough of his attempts at time wasting, followed by a surreal conversation between the two in which Shaw tried to plead innocent.
Hassocks rang the changes throughout the final 25 minutes, giving runouts from the bench to Alfie Loversidge, Jamie Wilkes, Phil Gault and Sam Rogers.
Loversidge and Gault had chances to add a third but were unable to beat Churchwell whilst Alfold saw their best spell of pressure on the Hassocks goal ended when Shaw was big and brave in collecting a corner.
Hassocks: James Shaw; Harvey Blake, Bradley Tighe, Alex Bygraves, Joe Bull; Josh Bradley, Mike Williamson, James Westlake, Jack Troak; Phil Johnson, Pat Harding.
Subs: Alfie Loversidge (Harding 69), Jamie Wilkes (Westlake 74), Phil Gault (Johnson 80), Sam Rogers (Bradley 90), Will Broomfield (unused).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Jack Troak
