Robins beat Roffey to take three points from trip to Theatre of Trees
How much of Hassocks topping the early Southern Combination Premier Division table is down to seven of their first eight league games being played at home?
A just question. And one the Robins are going to have to answer over the coming months having already completed almost half their matches at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground. But they could not have hoped for a better start to doing so than winning 4-0 away at Roffey.
Last season’s Division One champions had lost just once since promotion. The Boars are also the only side to have taken a point off title favourites Haywards Heath Town.
Yet Hassocks had the game sewn up by half time. Noah Hoffmann, an own goal questionably credited to Joe Bull and Ruari Farrell secured an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Farrell then added another after the break to complete the rout, making it four goals for him in the space of 72 hours after his weekend FA Vase brace at Horley Town.
The Robins set their attacking stall out straight from kick off at picturesque Bartholomew Way. Literally, straight from kick off. Less than 15 seconds had elapsed with Roffey yet to touch the ball when Hoffmann shot just wide.
Two minutes later and Harry Furnell escaped down the left to cross for Alfie Loversidge, whose effort was blocked.
Another minute on and Hassocks took the lead. Raging Bull this time reached the left-hand byline, pulled back a low pass and Hoffmann arrived on the scene to slam home via a nick off a Roffey defender.
Three minutes. Three chances. One goal. A whole nine minutes passed until the next talking point. A scramble broke out in the Boars box, ended when Jordan Mase leathered clear. In doing so, he also accidentally kicked Liam Hendy in the head.
Hendy required lengthy treatment, which bizarrely home captain Ricardo Fernandes took issue with. That perhaps should not have as a surprise, seeing as Fernandes is the brother of Manchester United midfielder Bruno.
The similarities between the two do not end with moaning at referees, either. Shortly after and Fernandes went to ground after being lightly caught by Hoffmann, screaming and rolling around as if his career was over.
Not one of Fernandes’ teammates seemed concerned, which was quite telling. Miraculously, he made a full recovery and went onto complete the game.
The 25 minute mark saw Boars goalkeeper Monty Watson-Price make three fine saves in the space of 30 seconds.
He kept out a Bull effort at the near post and punched clear Josh Mundy’s subsequent corner as it almost crept in the same upright.
Mundy collected said punch and bent a wicked cross-shot back towards goal. Watson-Price proved equal again, palming away at full stretch.
More enterprising play from Bull pushing forward up the left flank resulted in Hassocks doubling the lead on the half hour.
Bull attempted to drill a powerful pass across goal, only for the ball to hit the unfortunate Bailey Shorey, deflect over the head of Watson-Price and drop in at the far post.
Whilst the Robins had benefitted from deflections for their opening two goals, the third three minutes before the interval came from as crisp a strike as you will see.
Dan Turner spotted the run of Farrell and clipped a ball over the top. Having successfully sprung the Roffey offside trap, Farrell took a touch with his chest before rifling an unstoppable volley into the top corner with power and precision.
Roffey posed more of a threat in the second half and Jordan Brown had to show strong hands to turn away two distance drives from Ryan Ferrar.
There were a couple of flashpoints, most notably with 10 minutes remaining when Shaun Findlay lunged in two-footed on Will Berry in midfield.
Hassocks felt the offence worthy of a red and the normally placid Berry was unusually incensed. Referee Perry Hart only showed a yellow though.
As for the scoring, it was completed by the in-form Farrell on the hour mark. A couple of Roffey players screamed at Bull to hurry up and take a corner. Bull duly hurried up, took the corner and Farrell bundled home from close range.
Hassocks: Jordan Brown; Bradley Tighe, Dan Turner, Liam Hendy, Joe Bull; Alfie Loversidge, Josh Mundy, Will Berry, Harry Furnell; Noah Hoffman; Ruari Farrell.
Subs: Kian Nandhra, Dylan Hurst, Cavan Chedzey, Jamie Wilkes (sued), Harvey Blake (unused).
