Robins crash to 4-0 defeat in game which was over before half time
Broadbridge Heath reminded the Beacon faithful why they were Southern Combination League champions last season with a dominating performance and a 4-0 win over a lacklustre Hassocks.
The game was done and dusted as a contest by half time. Heath were 3-0 to the good and it felt like a score more in keeping with a game of cricket in Adastra Park might be on the cards.
Hassocks could at least take some consolation from a slight improvement in the second 45 minutes, but still know much better will be needed against Burgess Hill Town in the Ann John Trophy on Thursday night and Whitehawk in a week’s time.
It took just six minutes of a sunny but blustery afternoon for the Bears to take the lead. Charlie Parmiter ran directly at the Robins back line before playing a one-two with Mario Quiasacca on the edge of the area.
Parmiter brought the return down on his chest, weaved between two red shirts and poked the ball past the advancing Fraser Trigwell, who used to keep net for Heath.
Trigwell was not the only player up against his former club. Ex-Robin Jake Lindsey has joined the Bears for their debut Isthmian League campaign having scored 14 Southern Combination goals for Loxwood last season.
Lindsey was narrowly wide with a right footed curling effort from distance as Heath quickly set about trying to double their advantage.
They did not have to wait long after that Lindsey attempt to do so, moving 2-0 ahead before the 15 minute mark.
Matt Penfold received the ball in the left back position, hitting a 40 yard cross field pass which picked out the forward run of right back Jack Frankland.
Hassocks had not expected such a successful switch of play and their defence again found itself at sixes and sevens.
Frankland took full advantage, skipping past a couple of challenges and making it to the by-line, from where he pulled a low pass back to Quiasacca.
The Bears forward did the rest, applying a clinical first time finish low and hard into the bottom corner which gave Trigwell no chance.
Goal number three arrived on 25 minutes and again it came from out wide. Faris Khallouqui cut inside and hit a 25 yard shot which Trigwell did superbly to keep out low down to his right.
The save though was soured when Sam Lemon reacted quickest to tuck away the rebound from close range.
Another former Hassocks man nearly made it 4-0 just prior to break. Dan Webster rose highest at the back post to meet a corner with a powerful header which crashed against the post.
The second half did not bring much improvement from a Hassocks point of view with Heath continuing to dominate.
A succession of chances came and went in the first 15 minutes following the interval, eventually leading to Quiasacca adding his second and the Bears’ fourth of the afternoon.
Ryan Brackpool dropped deep to pick up the ball in front of his own backline. Several passes later and Heath swept the ball out to Mason Doughty on the right.
From there, Doughty showed fantastic vision to split the Hassocks defence with a pass straight through the middle, sending the lively Quiasacca clear.
For a second, it looked like Trigwell might get there first. Quiasacca though accelerated, beat the Robins number one to the ball and lifted into the now unguarded net.
The next 30 minutes brought no further goals as Hassocks belatedly tightened up whilst Heath took their feet off the pedal with the job done.
