Hawks prove too strong as memorable Robins cup run comes to an end
The giant killers of Hassocks Under 18s fell just short in their quest to pull off one more upset which would have taken them into their first Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup final for 21 years.
In front of a good crowd at the Beacon, Isthmian League side Whitehawk proved too strong on their way to a 3-1 victory.
The Hawks will face either Hastings United or Worthing at Culver Road next month to decide who is crowned County Champions.
To reach this stage of the competition, Hassocks had already delivered three shock results which left them as the only Southern Combination League side left flying the flag in the final four.
Local rivals St Francis Rangers may sit above the Robins in the Central Division and be the only side laying down a title challenge to long-term leaders Burgess Hill Town, but they were eliminated on penalties in round two.
Worthing United had underlined their quality by inflicting upon Hill their only defeat of the season in any competition in the second round, setting up a trip to the Beacon in the process.
Hassocks made light work of the Mavericks, sweeping them aside 4-0 before twice coming from behind to defeat a Newhaven side who may yet go onto claim the East Division title 3-2 in the quarter finals.
The Robins made one change from the team who had come close to taking a point from Burgess Hill a week earlier before being edged out 4-3 in a seven goal thriller.
Oliver Parker-Williams dropped down to the bench having made a lively debut as a substitute for the Under 23s on Thursday night in their 3-1 win over Horsham YMCA.
His place was taken by Oliver Goswamy, arguably the star of the Robins’ County Cup run. Goswamy has four goals for the season and all have come in the three games Hassocks had played to reach this stage of the competition, including a brace in the win over Newhaven.
Unfortunately, Goswamy was unable to add to his impressive record against Whitehawk. It fell to leading scorer Alex Brewer to provide the Robins consolation, his 17th of the season from 15 appearances.
All three of the visitors goals were scored by Toby Reeder, a forward good enough to have played eight times for Whitehawk’s first team already having made his debut at 16 away at Sevenoaks Town last season.
Reeder’s treble came via a perfect hat-trick. A right footed effort from 12 yards in the first half was followed by a towering header from a cross and a low left foot strike from outside the box in the second.
Hawks had other chances over the 90 minutes with Jack Thomas in the Hassocks goal having to make some important saves, including one at full stretch from a free kick which seemed certain to bend into far corner.
The Robins did cause Whitehawk their fair share of problems at the other end but ultimately, Hawks proved too good – no disgrace in that and this young Hassocks side can be very proud of their efforts in an historic and memorable cup run.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Sam Dean, George Gladding, Ed Tobias, Sam Fernley, Alex Wintle, Toby Munt, Harry Goatcher, Oliver Goswamy, Will Varley, Alex Brewer.
Subs: Oliver Parker-Williams, Ben Foster (used).
