ROBINS MAUL SWANS TO MOVE INTO DIZZY HEIGHTS OF FOURTH
The red army of Steve Spies’ Hassocks IIIs continued their climb up the Mid Sussex Premier Division table, marching into Leylands Park and leaving with a 4-0 victory from an eagerly anticipated clash with Lindfield.
Part of Hassocks’ recent success has been a settled team and minimal changes were the case here from the previous week.
Spiesy was keen to inject some youth into his side to threaten a Swans’ side who are always tall and physical. Unfortunately, he had no players available to do that and so had to settle instead for bringing Phil Wickwar, Mark Darbyshire and Ian Church into the starting XI.
Hassocks got off to the best possible start. Lindfield broke from their normal style of play involving kicking the ball 70 yards up the pitch by trying to put some passes together.
This went wrong straight from kick off with Ben Holden intercepting a wayward pass and slotting home after just 18 seconds.
Despite falling behind, Lindfield to their credit started to take control and laid siege to the Robins goal for long periods of the first half.
The Swans had a significant height advantage from set pieces which caused numerous problems. Hassocks needed some last ditch, brave defending from their three centre backs of Wickwar, Steve Hudson and Sam Franks to hold onto their slender lead. Spiesy also did an important job coming back to help out.
After weathering the storm, Hassocks hit Lindfield with a sucker punch on the half hour mark by moving 2-0 ahead. The ever-willing Logan Newington latched onto a Darbyshire through ball, composed himself and coolly slotted past the Lindfield goalkeeper.
If you do not take your chances at any level of football then it can come back to haunt you and that is something the Swans were definitely experiencing as the two sides headed off at half time with Hassocks two goals to the good.
Spiesy asked his troops to stop giving away so many needless free kicks and corners as this looked like Lindfield’s best route to goal.
He did not mention that by conceding less set pieces, it also reduced the chances of him heading past Reece Wickwar and adding to his own-goal tally, but everyone knew that was the real meaning of the message.
Hassocks heeded Spiesy’s words and began the second half well. The midfield trio of Holden, Church and Russell Harris began imposing themselves on the game supported well by Darbyshire and Ashley Hayes down the flanks.
In a piece of managerial genius, Spiesy withdrew himself midway through the second half to bring on new signing from Steyning Town Greg Hearne.
Hearne made an instant impact with Lindfield unable to cope with his strong running, enabling the debutant to score a quickfire double which effectively ended the contest.
Torrential rain began falling to worsen the mood of an already deflated Lindfield who had run out of ideas to break down a stubborn Robins defence.
Hassocks thrived as the game became more stretched and Darbyshire, Harris and Holden all went close to extending the lead.
With concerns that Darbyshire and Hayes might rust up in the rain, Under 18 players Will Baker and Luke Pearce were given runouts for the final 15 minutes as Hassocks comfortably saw out the game to move into fourth in the table.
Hassocks: Reece Wickwar; Mark Darbyshire, Steve Hudson, Phil Wickwar, Sam Franks, Ashley Hayes; Ian Church, Russell Harris, Ben Holden; Steve Spies, Logan Newington.
Subs: Greg Hearne (Spies), Will Baker (Darbyshire), Luke Pearce (Hayes).
Starman: Phil Wickwar was faultless throughout. Special mention to Ben Holden who was strong in the tackle and used the ball well and young Reece Wickwar, whose handling in difficult conditions was very accomplished.
