Kemp and Sim send Robins to victory over Varndeanians
Another big win was racked up by Hassocks Under 18s as they ran out 5-1 victors over AFC Varndeanians at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground.
The Robins have now scored 12 goals in two games and conceded just once since going down to a surprise first defeat of the season away at Montpelier Villa 14 days ago.
Despite all the heavy rain leading up to the game, the pitch was in excellent condition. It enabled Hassocks to get the ball down, knock it around and play some excellent football.
The Robins also had to display a certain degree of patience. Their other victories this season have seen them wrap up the result by taking unassailable leads into the first half.
Not so here. Varndeanians proved stubborn opponents with four of the Hassocks goals arriving after the break.
Chances came early for the Robins. George Drake headed a corner wide and Oscar Kemp hit the post with a low drive from outside the box.
The Varndeanians goalkeeper made some impressive saves, the best of which came when extending a leg to turn away when Nye Sim thought he had done enough to convert a low Will Hartley cross.
Hassocks eventually made their pressure count on 27 minutes. Hartley collected the rebound following another good stop from the visiting number one and pulled back to Sim, who applied a close range finish.
The Robins were caught cold at the start of the second half when a through ball split the defence. A Varndeanians forward advanced and showed great composure to beat George Lythgoe.
Captain Kemp led the Hassocks response, bagging a 23 minute hat-trick to take the game away from the visitors.
The first came via a brilliant free kick, hit with enough accuracy to pick out the far corner and leave the Varndeanians goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Four minutes later and 2-1 became 3-1. Charlie Bonwick-Adams had not long been off the bench when he was wiped out in the box. Kemp convincingly put the penalty into the opposite corner from where his free kick had nestled.
A superb tip over denied Kai Birchley before Kemp wrapped up his treble with 13 minutes remaining, tapping home from close range after Drake and Sim combined to give the skipper an open goal.
Sim added the fifth late in the day having assumed penalty taking duties with Kemp withdrawn. Bonwick-Adams was the player brought down again, this time via a clumsy trip from behind as he went racing clear.
Hassocks: George Lythgoe, Harry Hammond, Kai Birchley, George Drake, Ben Foster, Leo Charman, Will Hartley, Fletcher Fane, Nye Sim, Oscar Kemp, Evan China.
Subs: Charlie Bonwick-Adams, Ethan Brasier, Liam Deere, Scott Smith, Charlie Clayton. (used).
