Kemp brace and Nandhra give Robins win in return to action
Three games postponed due to rain before the middle of October has made for a frustrating start to the season for Hassocks Under 23s.
But the Robins showed against a talented Loxwood side that they will not let the disruption impact them, winning 3-1 at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground in their first fixture for three weeks.
Since beating Worthing Town 8-0 in the Sussex Under 23 Trophy 20 days earlier, top scorer Cavan Chedzey has moved to Roffey in search of first team football after scoring nine goals in just five appearances this season.
It was Under 18s captain Oscar Kemp who stepped up to fill Chedzey’s boots here, bagging a brace.
Kian Nandhra was also on target in a professional Hassocks performance against opponents who have caused the Robins plenty of problems before.
Hassocks got on the front foot early and it needed a brilliant full stretch save from the Loxwood goalkeeper to keep out an Alex Wintle header from a Tom Frankland free kick.
Wintle and Evan China were both denied in further fine interventions from the Magpies number one before Kemp disposed a Loxwood midfielder, drove to the edge of the box and picked out the bottom corner with a clinical finish via the inside of the post.
The Magpies responded to falling behind by forcing Fraser Trigwell into a fine flying save from distance.
Another driving run from Kemp took the Hassocks midfielder 50 yards up the pitch but his effort from a somewhat tight angle was just wide of the upright in the last action of the half.
An interesting moment from Trigwell kicked off the second 45. Having been caught trying to dribble around a forward inside his area, Trigwell regained the ball but brought the man down at the same time.
Referee Edwin Sinyei pointed to the penalty spot, only for Trigwell to then save the resulting spot kick. 10/10 for entertainment, Mr Trigwell.
Buoyed by that, Hassocks went back on the attack. Wintle hit the post and Kemp scooped a difficult chance over the bar when the Loxwood goalkeeper was lying on the ground but three or four defenders blocked the path to goal.
Two more saves denied Kemp as for all the Robins’ huffing and puffing, they struggled to find that crucial second goal.
Midway through the half and it was game on as Loxwood equalised. The left winger showed a remarkable turn of pace to speed past two Hassocks players and into the penalty area.
His effort from a tight angle was cleared off the line by Ben Hicks but only as far as substitute Adam Wheeler, who snuck the loose ball in at the neat post.
Loxwood enjoyed a decent spell of possession after equalising, although Trigwell was only really tested with a 25 yard effort straight down his throat. Still, it needed good handling for him to hold in slippery conditions.
For all the resolute defending done by the Magpies up to that point, they gifted Hassocks the goal which put the Robins back into the lead.
The centre back and goalkeeper seemed to want to leave a long ball over the top for the other to deal with.
Nandhra ruthlessly took advantage of the confusion, latching onto possession and coolly going around the surprised goalkeeper to make it 2-1 Hassocks.
Victory was wrapped up by Kemp from the penalty spot in the final 10 minutes. He earned the spot kick himself when nicking the ball off a Loxwood defender, whose response was to link arms with Kemp and drag him away from the ball and towards the touchline like the two were engaging in a barn dance.
It was a bizarre and somewhat unnecessary foul but Kemp was not complaining. He put his spot kick just out of reach of the Magpies goalkeeper.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell, Tom Frankland, Leo Charman, Sam Quickfall, Ben Hicks, Noah McHale, George Gladding, Alex Wintle, Oscar Kemp, Evan China, Kian Nandhra.
Subs: Will Varley, Will Hartley, Jack Smith, Jack Duckett, Liam Deere.
