Injury time Summerbell goal sees Hassocks sunk by Pirates
Facing seven of the Southern Combination League Premier Division’s top 10 in their final eight games of the season was always likely to make the run-in difficult for Hassocks.
Quite how difficult was laid bare as the Robins went down 2-1 in the last minute at Bexhill United, suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time since December.
The Polegrove is never an easy place to go. The Pirates sailed through the previous campaign unbeaten at home and although they have lost five times this season on their own turf, all those defeats have been against sides above them in the table.
Hassocks were unable to trouble that statistic, making the trip to the east of the county two points and one place worse off in the standings.
With that gap extended to five points and Bexhill now up to seventh, the Robins’ hopes of a top six finish are starting to diminish.
Still, to even be in with a shot of such a lofty position represents an excellent first season at the helm for James Westlake.
Taking points from Hassocks is now seen as a big thing. This was evidenced by the scenes of celebration amongst the players and fans of the Pirates come full time, and by the way in which Bexhill manager Ryan Light spoke about the Robins afterwards.
“It wasn’t pretty, we knew it would be a scrap and we knew would have to play the long game as teams like Hassocks are not ones you can put to bed lightly,” said Light.
The Robins were without injured top scorer Phil Johnson and winger Josh Bradley, two of their leading attacking lights since the turn of the year.
Johnson had missed the 2-1 midweek defeat at home to Crowborough Athletic in which Bradley had scored. Alfie Loversidge taking over on the right flank from Bradley was the only change Westlake opted to make from the Crows game.
Hassocks were to be dealt a further blow to their forward repertoire when the lively Leon Turner limped off injured eight minutes before half time.
His place was taken by Joe Bull, who struck the opening goal early in the second half with a quality effort from distance.
Oliver Hull was not convincing with his attempted clearing header from a Jack Troak delivery and that gave Alex Bygraves the opportunity to nod back to the edge of the area, where Raging Bull was lurking.
The ball set up for him to drive a crisp left footed volley back through the crowded box and beyond unsighted Bexhill goalkeeper Alex Zamani.
It was a difficult finish, as evidenced by the fact Bull hit the deck as it whistled home having stretched to connect. He celebrated whilst lying on his back, like an upside down tortoise.
That was the first moment of class following an opening 45 minutes lacking in much to write home about. Neither James Shaw nor Zamani were particularly worked with Hassocks looking most dangerous down the right flank.
Loversidge embarked on a couple of probing runs and he was ably supported on the overlap by Harvey Blake, the Robins’ best player on the day.
As well as complimenting Hassocks, Light praised his own side’s patience. “At 1-0 down, I was so impressed with our strength of character to not panic and stick to the game plan, and we got the rewards for that.”
Yet for all the Pirates’ patience, the two goals which turned the game around came via some poor defending from Hassocks, as was the case with both Crowborough goals four days earlier.
The equaliser arrived on 63 minutes. Zamani hit a long free kick 70 yards down the pitch to the edge of the Robins box.
All of Bradley Tighe, Jamie Wilkes and Mike Williamson converged to try and deal with it, resulting in the latter producing an unfortunate flicked header back towards his own goal.
That put Evan Archibald in and the veteran striker gleefully accepted the opportunity, coolly lobbing the ball as it bounced over the advancing Shaw.
In keeping with much of the preceding 90 minutes, the winning Bexhill goal in injury time was low on quality.
A scuffed corner barely had the required power to make it to the six yard box. Archibald reacted before anyone in red, darting to the neat post and scooping the ball over his own shoulder and into the box where Joe Summerbell darted in to head home from four yards.
Hassocks: James Shaw; Harvey Blake, Bradley Tighe, Alex Bygraves, Jack Troak; Alfie Loversidge, Mike Williamson, Jamie Wilkes, Leon Turner; Pat Harding, Liam Benson.
Subs: Joe Bull (L Turner 38), Tom Frankland (Loversidge 83).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Harvey Blake.
