Nothing can separate Robins and Bears in six goal Beacon thriller
Tuesday night games against early Southern Combination League Premier Division pacesetters seem to be to the liking of Hassocks right now.
One week on from their 4-2 win at third-place Horsham YMCA, the Robins claimed a point from a six-goal thriller against a Broadbridge Heath side who arrived at the Beacon sitting second in the table.
Hassocks trailed, led, trailed again and then levelled to make it 3-3 with seven minutes remaining through the in-form Liam Benson.
They played some scintillating stuff at times before relying on grit and determination to take the draw which they deserved.
It was wildly entertaining and a sign of what this Robins side can be capable of when they take their goal scoring chances – something which they have not done enough of in recent weeks when falling to Little Common, Crawley Down Gatwick, AFC Varndeanians and Chessington & Hook United.
Heath made a fast start, showing the Hassocks faithful why they are some peoples’ idea of dark horses for the title in a wide-open campaign with no obvious candidates.
Lewis Croal opened the scoring with 10 minutes played. A slide-rule pass was slipped between Joe Bull and Bradley Tighe with Croal winning the race and firing right footed past Alex Harris.
The Bears were ahead for only seven minutes. Bull delivered an outswinger corner which found its way to Jack Troak on the edge of the box.
Troak unleashed a fierce strike. When it proved too hot for Heath goalkeeper Liam Matthews to handle, Benson was on hand to gobble up the rebound for 1-1.
Heath responded by trying to get back on the front foot. That suited Hassocks, who were happy to sit, pinch possession and then use the pace and directness of Troak, Leon Turner and Phil Johnson on the break.
Several half chances came and went for both sides before a Troak rocket put Hassocks into the lead on 33 minutes.
There did not seem much on when Troak picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, only for him to unleash a low effort which left Matthews helpless as it clipped the far post on its way in.
James Westlake fed Johnson who bent just over on the stroke of half time after another dangerous counter. But if Heath were expecting Hassocks to continue sitting in at the start of the second 45, they were in for a surprise.
Within the opening five minutes Matthews had to be alert to hold a Troak effort and Turner and Harvey Blake linked up well down the right, the latter crossing to Benson who could not quite get a shot away.
A flurry of cards followed as the game became rather heated. Tall striker Jamie Wilkes entered the book, although nobody was entirely sure what for.
He was joined shortly after by a Heath defender following a chaotic chorus of players from both teams surrounding referee Jamie Wells.
With tempers becoming a little frayed, Hassocks earned a penalty on the hour mark. Benson embarked on a driving run from halfway which the Bears could only halt via illegal means once he had entered the area. Troak unfortunately saw his spot kick kept out by Matthews.
That miss only galvanised Hassocks. Johnson stole the ball from Mark Zydonik, the defender who played eight times for the Robins at the start of the campaign before returning to Heath. Matthews comfortably saved the subsequent weak effort from Johnson.
Zydonik was lucky to stay on the pitch a couple of minutes later when he produced a shocking tackle on Turner. Remarkably, Mr Wells did not even deem it worthy of a yellow. Zydonik’s crime spree would continue with another nasty foul on Benson in injury time.
A chaotic final 20 minutes was kicked off when substitute Tyler Symonds equalised for Heath. It was a poor goal to concede from a Hassocks viewpoint, Blake seeming to miss his clearance to allow Symonds to run through and beat Harris.
10 minutes later and Heath moved 3-2 ahead when Croal scored his second of the evening. The reaction of some of the Bears substitutes seemed to suggest they thought that had won them the three points – a very bold position to take given the manner in which the game had ebbed and flowed up until that point.
And so it proved when Benson made it 3-3 less than 60 seconds later. Turner won possession and produced the perfect cross met with a powerful header from Benson which gave Matthews no chance.
Two more chances were packed into the remaining eight minutes, one per team. Blake nearly scored with a cross-shot which had Matthews scrambling and then Heath rattled the bar with the last meaningful action, although Harris did not appear unduly concerned.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Harvey Blake, Alex Bygraves, Bradley Tighe, Joe Bull; Leon Turner, James Westlake, Jamie Wilkes, Jack Troak; Phil Johnson, Liam Benson.
Subs: Sam Rogers (Wilkes 80), Pat Harding (Johnson 87), Will Broomfield, Sam Smith, Sam Cash (unused).
Bedlam Brewery Starman: Liam Benson.
