Winger enjoyed himself in a month where all five games were played away
In a February featuring five away games and none at home, it was Jack Troak who enjoyed himself the most as he was named Hassocks Player of the Month.
Troak could not have chosen a better time to deliver some of his best form of the season, coinciding with fellow wide man and January award winner Big Alex Fair being ruled out with injury.
Having been named on the bench for the opening game of February at Petersfield Town, Troak returned to the XI with a superb display in the 3-0 win against Horsham YMCA.
Troak was an absolute live wire down the left flank, setting up Charlie Pitcher for the opening goal. Not even missing a penalty proved a dampener on Troak’s performance.
Especially as Pitcher made up for it by converting a second spot kick awarded to Hassocks. Troak celebrated by running towards the Robins support behind the goal and shouting: “That’s what I should have done!”
That Troak and Pitcher combination came to the fore again four days later in the 3-1 win at Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Tye goalkeeper Ryan Hammond found a Troak shot on 20 minutes too hot handle, enabling Pitcher to smash home the rebound and give Hassocks the lead.
Troak went onto play an important role as a substitute in the professional display which saw Hassocks eliminate Petersfield from the Peter Bentley League Cup.
He was then one of the better players in a below par showing at Crawley Down Gatwick, where the Robins suffered their heaviest defeat of the campaign so far.
Second place in February Player of the Month went to Bradley Tighe. The stalwart was so impressive at centre back alongside Dan Turner that even when Liam Hendy was available for selection after missing a couple of matches, Tighe maintained his place.
Hassocks conceded just once through their opening four games of February. Tighe even almost popped up with a rare goal at the other end, his powerful header from a Raging Joe Bull corner at Peacehaven somehow kept out by Hammond.
Not that the danger was over as long; tall striker Jamie Wilkes managed to get one of his giraffe-like legs onto the loose ball, sending it into the back of the net for the third Robins goal of the afternoon.
Morgan Vale took third after a red hot month in which he scored three times. His second half penalty decided the Premier Division game at Petersfield.
There was clearly something about the Rams which Vale liked as he also netted in the Peter Bentley Cup visit to the Southdowns Builders Stadium 10 days later.
Sandwiched between those two was a poacher’s finish for the third and final goal against YM, picking up the pieces after Jordan Brown spilled an Alfie Loversidge effort.
