Robins hold their own against Isthmian League Premier opponents Whitehawk
With the big kick off for the 2023-24 Southern Combination League campaign just a week away, Hassocks gave a much improved performance in their toughest friendly of pre-season.
Isthmian Premier Division outfit Whitehawk had won 7-1 at the Beacon a year ago. It was a much tighter game on this occasion, the Robins competing well with opponents from two division above before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.
Both Hawks goals came in the second half on an afternoon where the rain and wind resembled conditions you would expect in the depths of November, not mid-July.
Hassocks made a strong start. Jack Troak curled an effort against the upright after seizing on a loose attempted pass from Whitehawk across the back line and the visitors then needed Mitch Walker to stand tall and keep out an effort at the near post.
That second escape shook the Hawks into life and Alex Bygraves had to deflect a powerful drive behind for a corner.
The subsequent set piece was delivered with pinpoint accuracy and met by a powerful header cleared off the line by some heroic defending from Troak.
Liam Benson was next to go close for Hassocks with a low drive from outside the box which skimmed inches wide of the upright off the wet surface.
Benson was proving to be a bit of a handful for the Whitehawk defence to deal with. He challenged Walker in the air for a Raging Joe Bull cross, the loose ball falling to Alex Brewer.
The teenage Hassocks striker got a good connection on his subsequent volley but Walker showed quick reactions to get an arm up and block.
Whitehawk made eight half time changes. The biggest impact though came from Dom Johnson-Fisher switching from left wing to right, resulting in the former Steyning Town man becoming an ever increasing influence.
Bradley Tighe cleared a Johnson-Fisher cross over the Hassocks bar which for a brief moment looked like it might result in a wonderful own goal.
Another Johnson-Fisher cross turned into a shot in mid-air, forcing Fraser Trigwell into an excellent save at full stretch pawing the ball around the far post.
It was from the opposite flank to Johnson-Fisher that Whitehawk opened the scoring just before the hour mark.
Luke Robinson cut in from the right and bent an effort from the corner of the area into the opposite side of the Hassocks net for a quite spectacular goal.
One became two less than 60 seconds later. Whitehawk regained possession almost straight from kick off, Tom Cadman crossed and Johnson-Fisher popped up in the middle of the box to convert beyond Trigwell.
Bull had to cover round and clear after Andy Somo poked a long ball over the top through the legs of Trigwell.
Another chance came the way of Somo when he twisted and turned to find space in the box from a Johnson-Fisher cross.
Somo had only Trigwell to beat as a result of his trickery, but the Hassocks number one made a fine save to turn the ball over the bar.
The Robins managed a rare foray forward when Troak embarked on a powerful run, unleashing a shot which Hawks substitute goalkeeper Luke Glover had to go down at full stretch to push away.
Whitehawk almost had a third in similar fashion to their first, Robinson bending wide from distance before Hassocks forced Glover into another intervention.
Troak picked the pocket of the Hawks right back and fed Benson who laid off to Pat Harding. Super Pat took a touch and struck a shot between two visiting defenders which nearly caught Glover out.
Troak was finishing the game nearly as strongly as Johnson-Fisher had started the second half for Whitehawk.
The Robins left winger created the penultimate chance of the game, latching onto a clever lofted through ball from Sam Geard and crossing low and hard into the box.
Ben Bacon could not quite get there ahead of a Hawks defender, who turned the ball behind with the visitors somehow being awarded a goal kick.
Glover was then called into action one final time, parrying away a Sam Fernley drive after Bacon had laid off.
