League leaders Crowborough prove too clinical for Hassocks
Hassocks found out first hand why Crowborough Athletic are now nine points clear at the top of the Southern Combination Premier Division.
The Crows were slick, quick and clinical in running out 5-2 victors to inflict on the Robins their second league defeat of the season.
A crowd of 329 at the Crowborough Community Stadium came out to watch first take on fifth. It was the fourth biggest attendance at step five of the non-league pyramid across the entire country. If you included the number of dogs present, it felt like that figure would have been touching 400.
Neither man nor beast would have been expecting to see the Robins take the lead, but that was precisely what happened with nine minutes on the clock.
First though, Crowborough put on a moving pre-kick off commemoration of Armistice Day. A poppy wreath was laid on the pitch followed by a bugler playing The Last Post and an impeccably observed minute silence.
To the football and Crowborough were quick out the blocks, having a penalty appeal waved away inside of 120 seconds.
Crows centre back Harrison Mayhew then went for goal in ambitious style from 35 yards with an effort Fraser Trigwell got right behind to gather at the second attempt.
It was from their first foray forward that Hassocks opened the scoring. Liam Benson laid off to Super Pat Harding, whose 20 yard drive proved too hot for Crowborough goalkeeper Cameron Hall to handle.
Being the absolute fox in the box that he is, tall striker Jamie Wilkes followed up in predatory fashion and met the rebound with a diving header to stun the home support.
Almost as impressive as the acrobatic finish from the rangy Wilkes was an outrageous back heel off the line from Matt Gunn up the other end when Tom Pearson thought his one-on-one was about to level the game.
Crowborough nearly had reason to further curse Gunn when his knock down from an angled free kick into the box fell to Harding on the edge of the area.
Super Pat connected with a sweet strike, only for it to fly wide on its way to posing more danger to the fans (and dogs) gathered behind the goal.
A piece of set piece brilliance provided the Crows with their equaliser on the half hour mark, Mayhew sending a right footed free kick 25 yards out around the wall and into the top corner.
Seven minutes later and Crowborough took the lead from the penalty spot. Harvey Killick tricked and teased Joe Bull and although Raging Bull did well to cut off the dangerous Crows right winger, the ball was eventually delivered into the box.
A game of pinball broke out, ended when Bradley Tighe caught Lucas Murrain when attempting to clear. John Sinclair duly converted from 12 yards.
Things could have got worse for Hassocks before half time, Bull blocking with his head a Killick effort which had beaten Trigwell.
Killick was proving a real handful and he won Crowborough their second penalty of the afternoon with the second half just four minutes old.
Bull was a little unfortunate to concede it, tumbling to the ground as he attempted to chase Killick back. As he fell, Bull naturally outstretched his arm to cushion his landing with this flailing body part inadvertently catching the trailing leg of Killick to bring down the Crows winger.
Although Trigwell went the right way, he was unable to keep out Sinclair’s effort as Crowborough moved 3-1 ahead.
Hassocks responded well and fashioned a couple of chances to reduce the deficit. Wilkes headed a pinpoint Sean Stephenson cross over from six yards and Hall did well to hold a low Harding drive the Crows goalkeeper could only have seen late as it came through a crowd of players.
Trigwell made an outrageous one handed save with 60 minutes played, pushing the ball onto the bar after Murrain glided past three red shirts cutting in from the left wing to get a shot away.
Any hopes the Robins had of launching a comeback were, however, extinguished by two quickfire Crowborough goals.
Murrain, Jack Mayhew and Killick combined to carve through the Hassocks defence and set up Tom Pearson for a back post tap in.
That was on 65. On 67, Ollie Hyland was left totally free inside the box to meet a free kick with a diving header which made it 5-1 to the hosts.
The final goal of the game did at least go the way of Hassocks. Under 23s top scorer Julian Durand was only eight minutes into his senior debut off the bench when he met a cross with a brave header, taking a clattering from Hall in the process.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Harvey Blake, Bradley Tighe, Matt Gunn, Joe Bull; Sean Stephenson, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Pat Harding; Jamie Wilkes; Liam Benson.
Subs: Alex Bygraves, Alfie Loversidge, Kyle Woolven, Micael Fatela, Julian Durand (used).
Starman: Jamie WIlkes.
