Late heartbreak denies Robins point from Steyning
A very close fought game under the floodlights at the Birchwood Ground saw Hassocks Ladies narrowly beaten 2-1 by Steyning Town despite the Robins having taken the lead just before half time.
An entertaining Wednesday evening of football wasted no time in getting started with Hassocks goalkeeper Ellie Moquet called into action inside the first minute, gathering a cross.
Moquet next had an opportunity to showcase her distribution, a long clearance picking out Mia Pordage who could not quite reach it.
The 12th minute saw a clever Jess Craig pass find Emily Spooner. She went for a goal with a shot deflected behind for a corner.
Hassocks were looking dangerous going forward. Craig won a tackle in midfield and fed Jodie Johanson, whose pass to Pordage ended with a shot which home goalkeeper Ella Bates had to push around the post.
Steyning responded and Claire Stevens was required to block an attempt on goal. Jo Brown then set the Robins forward on another attack with an excellent through ball. Spooner could not get there before a home defender.
Johanson with her tricks and flicks was beginning to give the Steyning left back a torrid time but the hosts continued to show they were dangerous opponents playing on the counter.
Moquet was called into action twice to snuff out Steyning breaks, anticipating a through ball and then saving a goal bound shot.
The Robins goalkeeper then produced another long kick which caused the home defence problems, leading to Spooner seeing a shot saved by Bates.
Moquet next gathered a dangerous looking free kick, followed by Stevens showing her speed by cutting out a through ball. Stevens passed back to Moquet and Hassocks played their way out of trouble nicely.
There was one minute to go before the break when the Robins took the lead. Craig crossed and Katherine Chappell met it with a deft flick to take the ball away from Bates and send Hassocks into half time with a 1-0 advantage.
Steyning came out the blocks strongly at the start of the second half, earning a free kick which Moquet once again came and claimed well.
Proceedings ebbed and flowed after that. Bates denied Kirstin Mair and Moquet showed another fine piece of goalkeeping by staying tall and forcing a Steyning striker wide in a one-on-one situation.
Brown made an important interception before Mair played in Johanson cutting off her wing for an effort saved by Bates. Tallie Bright and Katie Read both made vital blocks as Steyning sought to find an equaliser.
On the hour mark, Hassocks had the ball in the net for the second time, but unfortunately the flag went up for offside.
The 66th minute saw Lola Moon replace the tireless Spooner as the Robins looked to freshen things up. Steyning forced a corner shortly after, from which they managed to get a shot away. Moquet proved equal to it with a diving save.
It was from the resulting corner that the home side equalised. Georgia Collier delivered and the ball evaded everyone as it flew straight into the back of the net.
Undeterred, the Robins went immediately back on the attack. Chappell created something out of nothing in midfield for an effort saved by Bates.
Johanson then made way for Mandy Morgan following a hard working shift in which she had been up and down the flank, helping in attack and defence. Morgan almost had an instant impact, being inches away from converting a superb Mair cross.
Into the final 10 minutes and Read and Stevens produced some solid defending before Hassocks scored what they thought was the winner.
Chappell had the ball in the back of the net, only for the assistant referee’s flag to again go up and rule out a second goal for offside.
That moment proved doubly heart breaking as Steyning immediately went up the other end and took the lead with just seconds remaining.
Substitute Brooke Pallanat found her fellow replacement Imogen Bates, who gave Moquet no chance by turning and riffling into the top corner.
There was still time for Hassocks to fashion a chance of an equaliser but goalkeeper Bates rounded off an excellent game by denying Moon.
And so it finished 2-1 to Steyning; a particularly disappointing result from a tight and even game which Hassocks certainly did not deserve to lose.
Hassocks: Ellie Moquet, Katie Read, Jo Brown, Claire Stevens, Tallie Bright, Jodie Johanson, Jess Craig, Emily Spooner, Kirstin Mair, Mia Pordage, Katherine Chappell.
Subs: Lola Moon, Mandy Morgan (used).
Silver Rocket Brewing Star Player: Jo Brown.
