Duckett hits hat-trick for Hassocks in perfect warm up for their big semi
A hectic final fortnight of the campaign for Hassocks Under 18s began in perfect style with an Easter Sunday win away at Steyning Town.
The Robins ran out 4-1 victors against the Barrowmen despite being without a number of regular players for two very good reasons.
Reason number one was Hassocks facing Newhaven in the semi finals of the Southern Combination League Under 18 Cup on Thursday evening.
The Dockers will be out for revenge having been eliminated by Hassocks from the Sussex Principal Dennis Probee Youth Cup in a five-goal thriller at the quarter final stage back in February.
Reason number two was that three players had been called into James Westlake’s squad for the first team’s game on Easter Monday morning, ironically also away against Steyning at the Birchwood Ground.
Sam Fernley and Alex Brewer did not feature at all for the Under 18s as a result, whilst Oliver Parker-Williams was only given a cameo appearance from the bench.
On Saturday, Fernley and Parker-Williams had both been used substitutes for the first team in their 1-0 defeat at home to Crawley Down Gatwick, making their senior league debuts. Ed Tobias was an unused substitute.
Ferney had previously impressed as a late introduction in October’s 5-0 Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup win at Forest Row, playing a big part in setting up the fifth and final goal for Danny Reid.
The opportunities afforded to Fernley, Brewer and Parker-Williams opened the door for Ben Foster, Ewan Edwards and Max Ward to come into the starting XI.
Not only that, but the promotion of three of their teammates showed the Young Robins that the chance to progress through the ranks is there.
That translated into an impressive performance, which made it four wins in a row in all competitions with 16 goals scored and just the one conceded.
Roman Mackenzie became the first player to beat Jack Thomas and his back line in over 180 minutes with his consolation for Steyning.
Hassocks had a hat-trick hero in their ranks, Jack Duckett scoring three of the Robins’ four goals with a superb treble as he continues to be in sparkling form at the end of the campaign.
There must be something about facing the Barrowmen which Duckett likes. He also scored against them in the first game of the season, when Hassocks ran our 3-1 winners at the Beacon.
Will Varley joined Duckett on the scoresheet with his 13th of the season, moving to within five of Brewer in their personal battle for the Robins golden boot.
Whilst attention has understandably focussed on Thursday night’s big semi at the Trafalgar Ground, Hassocks could still yet finish third in the Central Division standings.
Three points from Steyning lifted the Robins above Shoreham by a point, whom they face on the final day of the season in two week’s time.
Fixtures at home to St Francis Rangers next Sunday and away at Saltdean United complete a busy run of four games in two weeks.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Sam Dean, George Gladding, Ed Tobias, Ben Foster, Alex Wintle, Harry Goatcher, Ewan Edwards, Max Ward, Jack Duckett, Will Varley.
Subs: Joe Woodhouse, Oliver Parker-Williams (used).
