Six undefeated as rampant Robins prove too strong for Musselmen
Six league games undefeated and three points clear at the top of the Southern Combination Premier Division. To say the first month of the 2023-24 season has gone well for Hassocks would be a slight understatement.
Shoreham became the latest victims of a Robins side whose position at the head of the standings is as deserved as it is unexpected.
Spectacular strikes from Alex Fair and Kyle Woolven sandwiched a sixth of the campaign from in-form Liam Benson as Hassocks eased their way to a 3-1 win.
It took Fair just seven minutes to open the scoring, his first goal for the Robins coming against the club he helped win the Division One title last season under the management of ex-Hassocks striker Michael Death.
Seeing his side fall behind so early was not the first return to the Beacon as a manager Death would have wanted.
He did though have praise for his former side and the job being done in the dugout by old teammate James Westlake.
“Hassocks are flying at the moment and Westy and his team are doing brilliantly. Well done to them, they could really be in the mix this season,” said Death afterwards.
There was also a face familiar to the Robins faithful leading the line for Shoreham, Death having convinced Nathan Miles to end a five-year exile from senior football.
The seventh-highest scorer in Hassocks history was afforded a warm reception on his first ever appearance against the Robins.
Or rather, a warm reception from the crowd. Bradley Tighe was not quite so generous, fouling his former colleague with less than 120 seconds on the clock.
Tighe redeemed himself by clearing away the resulting free kick, crossed into the box by the Musselmen from a dangerous position.
Next came Fair’s goal, a brilliant chest and dipping volley from the edge of the area after collecting a Tom Frankland throw.
The marking from Shoreham was non-existent, but nobody could argue with the quality of the finish which left another ex-Robin in young goalkeeper Joe Southam grasping at thin air.
Seven minutes later and Tighe came closer than ever to ending his 179 game wait for a senior goal, putting a header against the bar from a Joe Bull corner.
Shoreham fashioned their first chance on 17 minutes. Neil Munday flashed a shot across goal which Fraser Trigwell did well to divert with his legs.
A well worked short corner routine from Hassocks saw Benson lay back to take Frankland, whose curling effort from 18 yards needed a hand from Southam to turn it behind.
Frankland delivered that next corner directly into the box. Gunn nodded onto the chest of Fair but his subsequent volley from much closer range on this occasion ended up on the railway tracks rather than the back of the net.
Shoreham left back Tom Bond almost doubled the advantage for Hassocks on the stroke of half time. Benson helped on a Super Pat Harding cross and under no pressure, Bond inexplicably headed the ball against his own crossbar.
From there, it bounced down and back towards Benson. Seemingly flummoxed by Bond’s decision making, Benson could not quite react quickest enough to force the loose ball home. Levi Martin was able to nip in and clear.
Heavy rain arrived during the interval and continued into the second half, making the surface slick and the ball greasy.
Tighe embarked on an early charge forward from right back, hitting a fizzing pass into Fair. Some trademark quick footwork from Fair created the space for a shot on the turn which whistled just past the post.
Frankland was equally nifty when lifting the ball over the head of Ross Myers in midfield, carrying into 40 yards of open space and slipping in Benson. It needed a firm block from Bond to turn the ball behind.
Benson would not be denied for long. Raging Bull delivered the resulting corner into a dangerous area where Benson headed home just before Southam could gather.
Woolven added the third with seven minutes remaining. Picking up possession some 30 yards out from goal, the substitute advanced a couple of steps before picking out the top right hand corner.
That a player as good as Woolven started the night on the bench is indicative of the squad depth Hassocks currently enjoy.
Keeping everyone happy will be no easy task for Westlake, but it is undoubtedly a nice problem to have.
The Robins were 60 seconds away from a clean sheet when George Hollah struck the consolation for Shoreham, bending a superb left footed free kick over the wall and into the opposite corner.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Bradley Tighe, Matt Gunn, Alex Bygraves, Joe Bull; Tom Frankland, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Pat Harding; Alex Fair, Liam Benson.
Subs: Kyle Woolven (Fair 60), Alfie Loversidge (Harding 77), Sam Geard (Benson 87), Charlie Fogden (Bull 90), James Westlake (unused).
Starman: Matt Gunn.
