Crows down Robins to end Hassocks unbeaten start to league season
The Saturday night fixture on Southern Combination Groundhop Weekend saw the sides first and second in the Premier Division form table go head-to-head.
It did not disappoint. A big crowd witnessed the end of the last remaining unbeaten record in the division as hosts Crowborough Athletic edged out Hassocks 2-1 at the Charles Century Community Stadium.
The Robins arrived having not lost in 12 league matches and on a club-record run of eight victories in a row. Crowborough meanwhile had won five of their previous six after a slow start to the campaign.
Both teams provided an excellent advert for the Southern Combination League in front of groundhoppers from all over the UK, who headed to Sussex to watch seven games staggered across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Oakwood 1-2 Alfold had been the Division One offering at 11am on Saturday. Jarvis Brook 2-2 Southwater in Division Two followed at 2.30pm. From Limekiln, it was a two mile journey across Crowborough for the evening fare.
With Hassocks having a reputation for fast starts and scoring inside the opening 10 minutes this season, anyone who delayed leaving Jarvis Brook for the Charles Century Community Stadium put themselves at risk of missing some of the action.
This turned out to be two goals – one per side – for anyone arriving five minutes late. The Robins led after two and Crowborough equalised after four, setting the tone for an encounter which ebbed and flowed at a frenetic pace.
In-form Harry Furnell opened the scoring with his sixth goal from six October appearances. There was a somewhat fortunate bounce in the build up but nobody could argue with the quality of the finish, Furnell firing clinically past Martin Grant to put Hassocks ahead.
One has tended to lead to two when it comes to these early leads the Robins get. Crowborough though had clearly done their homework and knew they not only needed to avoid being overwhelmed by the goal, but strike back as soon as possible.
And it turned out to be possible in under 180 seconds. The lively Harry Forster stole into the box and hit a screamer which gave Jordan Brown no chance.
Forster was a real threat throughout with Hassocks struggling to contain his ability to glide past defenders at ease.
There was a lengthy stoppage on 11 minutes when a collision between the scorers saw Furnell bring down Forster.
Referee Grieg Walker opted for a short lecture rather than any cards; a sensible decision as to flash a yellow at that juncture for a challenge not really deserving one would have been to open a can of worms for the remaining 80 minutes.
Not that Furnell managed to escape a card. Mr Walker went for the pocket on the half hour mark, one of three yellows shown to Hassocks. Josh Mundy and substitute Alex Fair joining Furnell in the book during the second half.
Hassocks trailed by that point with Forster again the Crowborough goal scorer. He recovered quickly from the rough treatment meted out to him by Furnell to give the hosts the lead on 18 minutes.
The goal was the end result of another driving run in which no Hassocks player was able to convincingly take the ball off Forster. It started on halfway and saw Forster glide past at least six red shirts before finishing beyond Brown.
At that point, a potential goalfest looked on the cards. But the scoring dried up as the Robins got to grips with Forster and began to dominate possession.
Crowborough had the ball in the net again before half time, only for a tight but correct offside call to go against them.
Hassocks came closest to forcing an equaliser early in the second half when an almighty goalmouth scramble broke out.
There were at least two heroic blocks and Grant made a magnificent reaction save as the Crows somehow prevented the ball crossing the line.
Most of the final 30 minutes was played in the Crowborough half but the hosts were well organised and proved too stubborn to break down.
It was a defensive display good enough to end Hassocks’ unbeaten start and earn the Crows almost as many plaudits from the visiting groundhoppers as their homemade Sussex shepherd’s pie which was on sale.
Hassocks: Jordan Brown; Harvey Blake, Dan Turner, Liam Hendy, Joe Bull; Alfie Loversidge, Josh Mundy, Darren Budd, Harry Furnell; Jamie Wilkes; Ruari Farrell.
Subs: Morgan Vale, Alex Fair, Harvey Enticknap, Bradley Tighe (used), Noah Hoffmann (unused).
Starman: Jordan Brown.
