Hassocks come agonisingly close to draw with the Darts
Despite conceding as early as the third minute, Hassocks Ladies could consider themselves unlucky to be on the end of a 2-1 defeat against Dartford Reserves.
This was a good performance from the Robins against a side who arrived at the Beacon sitting fourth in the London & South East Regional League Division One table.
With Hassocks currently bottom of the pile, the visitors might have expected more goals and an easy victory to materialise having gone ahead inside 180 seconds.
Hassocks though showed that would not be the case by responding immediately to Amy Reader’s strike for Dartford.
The Robins won a free kick on the left, expertly delivered by Kirsten Mair for Jess Craig to meet with a glancing header which levelled the game.
Dartford went back on the attack after the Hassocks equaliser and it needed a great block from Tallie Bright to prevent a shot troubling Sarah Chappell in the Robins goal.
Craig then showed her worth defensively when covering well to deny Dartford from another foray forward.
The game was fast becoming an end-to-end contest. Jodie Johanson won back possession and played in Katherine Chappell for a shot fired just over on the quarter hour mark.
Bright had to be alert again to cut out a potentially dangerous situation at the expense of a corner. Jo Brown produced some solid defending to clear the set piece delivery away from danger.
Having ridden that spell of Dartford pressure, Hassocks began to push forward. Another good free kick from Mair caused problems for the visiting goalkeeper, who managed to gather at the second attempt.
Hassocks could consider themselves unlucky to fall 2-1 behind on 23 minutes to a very fortuitous Dartford goal.
An attempted clearance struck a visiting forward and rebounded directly into the path of Emma Healey. Stood front and centre of the goal, Healey made no mistake by firing the ball past Chappell.
The Robins almost levelled instantly for a second time when a strong Claire Stevens header from a pinpoint Mair corner was narrowly off target.
Dartford hit the post in the 33rd minute followed by Craig trying her luck from distance twice in quick succession.
The first effort required a strong save from the visiting goalkeeper and the other was inches over the bar.
Dartford had a chance to extend their lead five minutes before half time. A superb pass put a forward through one-on-one but Chappell stood tall and forced the shot wide.
There was still time for Lola Moon to embark on a great run and cross which required good defending to prevent Hassocks making the most of the opportunity.
The Robins started the second half brightly with Johanson going on a powerful run forward and finding Emily Spooner who just could not work a position for a shot.
As the game continued to ebb and flow, Dartford shot wide from a promising position and Stevens was required to head clear a testing corner.
Hassocks made a change on the hour mark, introducing Mia Pordage for Moon. Three good chances went the way of the visitors next. Brown made vital interceptions in the 64th and 65th minutes, cutting out dangerous through balls.
Chappell then had to stretch high to keep out a long range effort which was heading towards the top corner.
Dartford next earned a free kick headed behind by Stevens. Read telegraphed the danger from the corner and made a fine interception.
Hassocks pushed forward from there and Spooner saw a turn and shot blocked by the Dartford goalkeeper.
There was a Robins debut for Mandy Morgan in the 77th minutes, replacing the hard working Johanson. Five minutes later and Read took a ball to the face as she dealt with a long clearance but was thankfully okay to carry on after treatment.
It proved to be a lively final few minutes once play restarted. Hassocks put together the best passing move of the match, releasing Mair down the flank for a cross-shot well saved.
Dartford passed up an opportunity to make the game safe when shooting over before Mair came agonisingly close to a late equaliser when her shot beat the goalkeeper but dropped onto the top of the net.
The final whistle blew shortly after on a 2-1 defeat for the Robins. Once again though, the Hassocks players can be proud of their efforts in a match in which they could easily have obtained at least a point.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Tallie Bright, Katie Read, Claire Stevens, Jo Brown, Jodie Johanson, Jess Craig, Kirstin Mair, Lola Moon, Emily Spooner, Katherine Chappell.
Subs: Mia Pordage, Mandy Morgan (used).
Silver Rocket Brewing Star Player: Kirstin Mair.
