Robins not quite able to see the light in score draw with Lingfield
Neither Lingfield nor Hassocks were left particularly impressed with the performance of the match officials as they shared a 2-2 draw at Tinsley Lane.
But that at least made for an entertaining game for the neutrals – once a boring opening 25 minutes were out the way.
The main talking point during that lacklustre spell was the lack of floodlights. Lingfield have taken up temporary residence with Oakwood whilst drainage work at their Godstone Road home continues.
Their landlords seem keen not to have the Lingers overburden their electricity bill. Several Lingfield players had to call over to the sidelines as darkness descended during the first half to request the floodlights be turned on.
When someone eventually flicked the switch 10 minutes before the break, it was for only two of the four pylons – illuminating the end Hassocks were attacking.
Belatedly seeing the light coincided with a strong finish to the half for Hassocks in which they hit the post twice in five minutes.
Darren Budd released Joe Overy down the right and his teasing cross was headed against the upright by Harry Furnell.
Harvey Blake then shaved the outside of the same post after a Ruari Farrell half-chance was only partially cleared by the Lingers.
Blake had been on the receiving end of the game’s first yellow card two minutes earlier for the crime of having a Lingers player run into him.
60 seconds later and Lingfield forward Ousmane Balde Dansoko entered the book for an equally nonsense reason, setting the tone for referee Konrad Kaminski to get most subsequent decisions wrong.
That included when failing to show Dansoko a second yellow on the hour mark for a foul in midfield.
Dansoko was immediately withdrawn in a treble change. The Hassocks bench were not shy in making clear their feelings that he should have been red carded before he could be substituted.
That anger soon deepened when the player introduced by Dan Burnett to replace Dansoko put the Lingers ahead three minutes later.
Dennis Asante closed down debutant Robins goalkeeper Jordan Brown, whose attempted clearance cannoned into the Lingfield sub to rebound into the back of the net.
Former Loxwood and Midhurst & Easebourne number one Brown otherwise looked assured deputising for Fraser Trigwell, absent because his partner is due to give birth imminently.
The error would not have mattered so much had Hassocks taken two opportunities within five minutes of the second half.
Farrell was inches away from connecting with a Furnell cross and tall striker Jamie Wilkes saw an effort hacked off the line by Jack Porter.
James Westlake made a triple substitution of his own in immediate response to falling behind. Dylan Hurst, Big Alex Fair and Alfie Loversidge took over from Budd, Furnell and the rangy Wilkes.
Fair was instantly into the action, dummying a Mundy corner so the ball fell at Farrell’s feet in the box. Farrell was wiped out by George Branton for a clear penalty. Mr Kaminski awarded Lingfield a free kick.
Mundy took matters into his own hands on 76 minutes, scoring a superb equaliser. The teenager stepped around Branton and bent into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Mr Kaminski enraged Lingfield three minutes later when awarding Hassocks a very soft free kick. Mundy delivered and when home goalkeeper Tom Marshall found Farrell’s shot too hot to handle. Loversidge reacted quickest to fire home the rebound.
The game appeared to have been turned on its head. The Robins though led for just three minutes before Porter broke forward and crossed for Connor Wilford to nod into the bottom corner.
Hassocks had to see out the closing stages with only 10 men after Fair was sin binned but Lingfield barely threatened despite their numerical advantage.
In keeping with much of the preceding 90 minutes, it was instead the officials who were the centre of attention during injury time.
Lingfield wanted Tom Frankland sent off for an alleged stamp whilst Hassocks became increasing incensed at the hosts’ time wasting tactics, including Wilford wonderfully taking an age to leave the field when subbed by clapping the sparse crowd.
Hassocks: Jordan Brown; Harvey Blake, Will Berry, Liam Hendy, Bradley Tighe; Joe Overy, Darren Budd, Josh Mundy, Harry Furnell; Jamie Wilkes; Ruari Farrell.
Subs: Alex Fair (Wilkes 65), Dylan Hurst (Budd 65), Alfie Loversidge (Furnell 65), Tom Frankland (Overy 86).
Starman: Josh Mundy.
