Hassocks hit three goals in five second half minutes to sink Saltdean
Seasoned Hassocks observers may well have approached the visit of the Saltdean United to the Beacon with some form of trepidation.
The way of the Robins has long been to follow up impressive results against good teams – such as beating both Eastbourne Town and Peacehaven & Telscombe in the space of 72 hours – by struggling in banana skin ties against the strugglers.
Not so here. Hassocks comfortably overcame the second-bottom Tigers 4-0 thanks to a blistering spell of three goals in five minutes just past the hour mark.
Two of them came from Pat Harding, introduced at half time in place of Julian Durand and notching his 148th and 149th career goals for the Robins.
At the other end of the scoring scale, Mike Williamson grabbed his first in Hassocks colours after Kyle Woolven had put the Robins ahead in first half injury time from the penalty spot.
The opening 45 minutes was pretty much one-way traffic towards the Saltdean goal, leaving Fraser Trigwell a virtual spectator.
Durand had two early chances, the first drawing a key near post save from Luca Piano having been sent clear by Jamie Wilkes. The second Durand opportunity was lifted marginally over the bar from a tight angle.
Between those, Piano just about managed to hold a low drive from Josh Mundy from outside the box after Hassocks produced a clever short corner routine.
Already busy, Piano soon made more work for himself when an attempted pass out from the back went straight to Alfie Loversidge. The Tigers goalkeeper managed to recover and gathered the ball from the feet of Loversidge.
Despite having been so under the cosh, it looked like Saltdean were going to make it into the break level until conceding a stonewall penalty a mere minute before the whistle went.
Joe Bull saw his corner returned straight back to him. Rather than redeliver, Raging Bull drove into the box where he was scythed down by former Robin Alfie Edmeads. Woolven expertly converted high into the top left hand corner, giving Piano no chance.
Mundy had the first opportunity of the second half with another distance drive gathered low down by Piano, who then made his best save of the afternoon.
Hassocks worked the ball from left to right through Woolven, Wilkes and Williamson to Tom Frankland pushing forward from right back.
Frankland crossed deep for Harding to hit a close range volley somehow kept out via the fastest of reactions from Piano.
Next came Harding and Loversidge both seeing shots blocked in the same passage of play. The Robins were now starting to find a tune, which spelt bad news for Piano.
1-0 on 64 minutes became 4-0 by 69 minutes with Williamson getting the party started. Frankland swept a forward pass into the feet of Wilkes. The tall striker laid the ball off to Williamson, collecting some 30 yards away.
From there, Williamson jinked his way past two blue shirts and into the Saltdean area before picking out the bottom corner with a left footed effort.
Quite what Bygraves was doing alongside Williamson in the box was anyone’s guess, but he made the most of being on the scene by leading the celebrations about Williamson breaking his duck.
Next it became the Harding show as Super Pat found the back of the net in the 66th and 69th minutes. Wilkes collected a hooked pass up the right channel from Loversidge and pulled back to Mundy arriving on the edge of the box.
The rebound from Piano parrying Mundy’s effort struck Harding, who should remarkably fast reactions for a bloke approaching his 40s to fire home the loose ball.
A different type of goal provided Harding with his second. Piano hit the wrong note when he tried to loft a pass out to his left wing.
Loversidge gleefully intercepted just outside the Saltdean area, made it to the by-line and pulled back to Harding at the back post.
With Harding positioned on the six yard line and two Tigers defenders plus Piano between him and the goal, Super Pat brilliantly found a gap between them all by striking for the top corner.
Chasing his hat-trick, Harding perhaps should have done better with a shot blocked by Osman Khan for a corner – followed by some typical words of encouragement shouted by Hassocks chairman Dave John watching from behind the goal.
Another of Saltdean’s ex-Hassocks contingent then ensured the score remained at four, Arthur Rawlingson doing just enough to divert a Leon Turner effort over the bar.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Tom Frankland, Alex Bygraves, Matt Gunn, Joe Bull; Alfie Loversidge, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Kyle Woolven; Jamie Wilkes; Julian Durand.
Subs: Pat Harding (Durand 46), Leon Turner (Loversidge 70), Micael Fatela (Wilkes 70), Noah McHale (Frankland 82).
