Heath get the job done but Easter excitement in short supply
Haywards Heath Town took Mid Sussex bragging rights by beating Hassocks 2-0 at the Home Smart Energy Stadium in a tense, nervy Easter Monday Derby.
And with their win, the Bluebells ensured the race for the Southern Combination Premier Division playoffs is likely to go down to the wire.
You have to go back to the 1992-93 season to find the last time the Robins defeated Heath in a competitive fixture.
Whilst Hassocks had the better of the second half here, they were unable to seriously extend Mitch Bromage in the home goal to end that barren run.
At the other end, Heath converted two of the limited opportunities which came their way in an encounter of few clear cut chances.
Regarding the league table, the result dropped Hassocks to fifth – the final playoff spot. The Robins are now only three points ahead of Heath, who crucially have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.
Derby day between Hassocks and Heath had rarely seen so much riding on it. You could cut the tension with a knife amongst the crowd before kick off, an atmosphere reflected on-the-pitch by a turgid game.
Somewhat unsurprisingly in the circumstances, both sides looked like they did not want to lose rather than go out and win. Entertainment was therefore in short supply.
Heath did at least raise a laugh come the full time whistle, blaring out ‘Money, Money, Money’ by ABBA over the PA – presumably in response to the much-talked about difference in budget between the two rivals.
Earlier in the campaign, that difference allowed Heath to entice Hassocks’ top scorer Liam Benson to Hanbury.
Approaches for other Robins players have been made and whilst James Westlake has managed to keep his squad together bar Benson, it highlights the difficulty Hassocks will face in convincing players to stay at the Beacon next season without offering financial incentive.
To the football and a bizarre fifth minute sequence involving referee Tazlim Ali and assistant Harry Cushen provided the first talking point.
Heath forward Finn Daniels-Yeoman was brought down for what appeared a stonewall penalty.
As Mr Ali waved play on, Mr Cushen kept his flag raised. After the game continued for a couple of minutes, Mr Ali brought things to a halt to consult his assistant.
Remarkably, the outcome of this chat was not a spot kick, but play restarting via a Hassocks drop ball.
Erroneous or not, the consensus amongst the Robins contingent at full time was that Mr Ali’s decision not to give a penalty contributed to him “making up for it” by awarding a very soft 79th minute spot kick, allowing Byron Napper to kill the game off.
After that early chaos and confusion, Heath looked the most likely to open the scoring as they dominated the first half.
Bull made a superb sliding block to prevent Benson converting into an empty goal after rounding Trigwell.
Under a minute later and Emmanuel Abudiore lobbed a bouncing onto the roof of the net.
Next came the first sight of goal for Hassocks. Harvey Blake launched an up-and-under into the box, palmed away by a strong Bromage hand as it looked like it might loop in.
Chances remained few and far between, even after Finn Daniels-Yeoman put the Bluebells ahead on the half hour mark.
Heath strung together a nice passing move to give Daniels-Yeoman a sight of goal and although Bull blocked the first effort, the Bluebells forward picked out the top corner at the second attempt.
On the subject of air, a set piece bombardment looked the most likely way for Hassocks to get back into it.
First half injury time saw a Hassocks corner half-cleared to Mike Williamson on the edge of the box. His header back towards goal was glanced just wide by Matt Gunn.
Combining to deny Heath a second shortly after the break were Gunn and Bull, sliding in at the same time to block a Lewis Finney shot.
Understandably, Heath became content to defend what they had. Turner’s trebuchet of a long throw caused them the most problems, Bromage having to punch a Gunn header clear at full stretch followed by Troak nodding off target.
Now displaying excellent game management whilst looking dangerous on the counter, Heath scored their second with 11 minutes left via that questionable penalty awarded when Turner won the ball in a fair challenge on Abudiore.
Taking duties fell to home captain Napper, who was calmness personified in riffling past Trigwell to double the lead.
Seconds after the restart and Hassocks earned a free kick 35 yards out. Josh Mundy surprised everyone by going for goal other than Bromage, who palmed away at full stretch in what proved to be the last chance of the game.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Harvey Blake, Matt Gunn, Dan Turner, Joe Bull; Leon Turner, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Faris Khalloqui; Jamie Wilkes; Jack Troak.
Subs: Alfie Loversidge (Khalloqui 45), Pat Harding (Wilkes 75), Sean Stephenson (L Turner 81), Micael Fatela (unused).
Starman: Joe Bull.
