Series of spectacular goals takes Hassocks past Pagham in League Cup
Semi finalists in the Sussex Under 23 Cup and now quarter finalists in the Southern Combination League Cup. This is turning into quite the season for Hassocks.
The Robins moved into the last eight of the latter competition thanks to a commanding 7-1 victory over West Division outfit Pagham at a freezing Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground.
Not that the hosts needed long to warm up. They scored after only eight seconds for possibly the fastest goal any Hassocks side has ever managed.
Pagham moved the ball back from kick off but could not hold onto possession for long thanks to a relentless press from Oscar Kemp.
The Lions subsequently gave the ball away. Kian Nandhra latched onto it and beat an unsuspecting Pagham goalkeeper with a superb strike from 35 yards.
Great news for the Robins. Bad news for anyone who delayed leaving the Clubhouse because of the cold and EastEnders being on.
That set the tone for a series of spectacular goals scored by Hassocks across the evening. Take Sam Fernley, for example.
Not long after his half time introduction at left back and Fernley embarked on a driving run 70 yards down the pitch and past three Lions players. It ended with him slotting home a cool, calm finish right-footed.
Under normal circumstances, George Gladding would have notched the goal of the night with his first-time, outside of the boot rocket bending into the top corner following a one-two with Nandhra.
But Nandhra had in fact saved the best for last. Wrapping up his hat-trick in magnificent style, Nandhra cut in from the left to hit a strike which cleared the Pagham goalkeeper before dipping viciously to drop in the far corner.
Nandhra’s second goal saw him take ruthless advantage of a blind attempted back pass from a Lions central defender.
Kemp also benefited from Pagam being loose in possession when scoring Hassocks’ second of the night, a low clinical drive from the edge of the box. Sam Quickfall provided the other goal, opening his Robins account in the process.
It could have been an even heavier defeat for the Lions. Hassocks hit the woodwork three times in quick succession during the first half.
A deflected Kemp effort rattled the upright, Nandhra put a bullet header against the face of the bar from a Tom Frankland corner and then a Frankland free kick 30 yards out clipped the top.
The only disappointment for the Robins was not keeping a clean sheet. Pagham scored a well-worked second half consolation came finished off by Camball Mines.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell, Tom Frankland, George Gladding, Ben Hicks, Noah McHale, Sam Quickfall, Alex Wintle, Evan China, Oscar Kemp, Kian Nandhra, Luke Hendy.
Subs: Sam Fernley, Jack Duckett, Charlie Bonwick-Adams, Will Hartley, Ben Foster (used),
