Playoff semi final heartbreak for Robins – but plenty to be proud of
Playoff semi final defeat to Eastbourne Town meant Hassocks saw their incredible 2023-24 season come to a close with heartbreak on the Sunshine Coast.
Ollie Hull scored a first half brace to give Town a 2-0 victory in front of a packed Saffrons. Town were the better side on the night against a Robins outfit who looked understandably jaded from their weekend exertions, playing Newhaven for over an hour with only 10 men.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Hassocks hammered the Dockers 5-1 to secure fifth place in the table. And whilst that seemingly took a lot out of the Robins, it appears to have had no adverse impact on Newhaven.
The Dockers won the other playoff semi on penalties away at Crowborough Athletic and now face Town at the Saffrons in Sunday’s final. A place in the Isthmian League awaits the winner.
Both Newhaven and Eastbourne Town were amongst the pre-season favourites for promotion. Not so Hassocks.
As Town boss Jude Macdonald told The Argus before the game: “The job James Westlake has done there is unbelievable. There is no way I could have got a team into the playoffs on zero budget.”
Come full time and the pain of falling just short of an implausible first ever elevation into step four was evident amongst Hassocks players and coaching staff. But once all that subsides, the Robins can look back on a record-breaking campaign with pride.
They accumulated the most Southern Combination Premier Division points in Hassocks history, secured the club’s second highest finish and attracted more people to watch at the Beacon than ever before.
There is a sense that something special is being built by Westlake and his assistant Tom Hughes, although that presents challenges in itself.
Doing everything possible to keep this special group of players together has to be the overriding priority for Hassocks this summer.
At the same time, the club need to find a way to give Westlake the backing he needs to maintain the Robins as regular challengers at the right end of the table.
You would have to say he has earned that backing by transforming the Robins from relegation candidates to playoff contenders in two seasons at the helm.
Town made a fast start reflecting their position as Southern Combination League runners up, earned by a barnstorming run of 14 wins and one draw from their past 15 games.
James Waters came close to opening the scoring as early as the second minute. Hassocks were unconvincing dealing with a cross, presenting the lively Waters with a chance lifted just over the bar.
Hassocks had their first opportunity with 20 minutes played. Some nice build up ended with Jamie Wilkes laying off to Harvey Blake. Home captain Tom Vickers was required to make an important block at the expense of a corner.
It was from a corner at the other end that Town took the lead on the half hour mark. Jack Murphy drilled a low delivery towards the penalty spot.
Hassocks were caught by surprise as Hull darted onto it, sweeping a finish across Fraser Trigwell and into the opposite corner.
The final five minutes of the half brought more action than the previous 40. Jack Troak teed up Blake for a volley on the bounce which dipped just over the bar.
Waters was then inches wide with a spectacular bicycle kick before Town doubled their lead in the second minute of injury time.
After a game of head tennis, the ball fell to Anesu Sisimayi to dink an inviting cross into the box. Hull arrived to once again finish on the run.
Hassocks had plenty of possession in the second half but it was not until late in the day they began to really threaten.
A quite phenomenal game of pinball in the box saw Troak, Alfie Loversidge, Bradley Tighe and Troak again denied by four heroic Town blocks in the space of 10 seconds.
The Robins felt the last of those from Nathan Hover was made with a hand. Those penalty appeals might have fallen on deaf ears but Hassocks did not have long to wait to receive a spot kick.
Town were only able to half-clear after the kerfuffle. Mike Williamson returned the ball into the box and Leon Turner laid off to Raging Joe Bull, who was wiped out just as he got a shot away.
Young home goalkeeper Toby Bull had impressed all night with his handling and that extended to keeping out Troak’s injury time penalty.
Whilst a successful conversion might have made for a more nervy final few minutes, it is unlikely it would have changed the outcome.
Not that it mattered to Troak, who was inconsolable at the end. A harsh way for the season to finish for Hassocks; but what a season it has been.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Blake, Matt Gunn, Dan Turner, Bull; Stephenson, Wilkes, Williamson, Harding; Khalloqui; Troak.
Subs: L Turner, Loversidge, B Tighe, Short, Fatela (used).
