SCRAPPY VICTORY BACK AT THE BEACON GOOD ENOUGH FOR JEWELL
A run of seven successive County League away games over the past eight weeks had seen Hassocks victorious at Division One’s top three clubs.
Their return to the Beacon could not quite match those heights, but Mickey Jewell was nonetheless happy with another three points secured by beating Crowborough Athletic 2-1.
“Not very pretty,” was how Jewell described it. The Robins could be forgiven for a scrappy, workmanlike success given the midweek effort that went into becoming the first team this season to beat runaway leaders Pagham.
Two wins in four days have also been achieved without Spencer Slaughter, Anthony Hibbert and Phil Johnson – although Slaughter did come on as late substitute against the Crows despite carrying an injury.
Kieran O’Callaghan was the key to Hassocks success. He gave an outstanding performance in that all-important holding midfield role in front of the back four, especially in the second half when Crowborough dominated possession.
Rarely did the Crows look like hurting Hassocks, however. Ashley Marsh and Stuart Faith in the centre of defence were solid and Jack Simpson was excellent, only being beaten by a controversial penalty late on.
The Robins could have been home and dry within five minutes. Silky skills from Phil Gault brought an early chance and then Nathan Miles went clear through but a weak finish enabled Crowborough goalkeeper Ben Head to save with his legs.
Miles did at least make instant amends when opening the scoring from the resulting corner. Chris Maynard delivered a vicious inswinger which Miles got a glancing touch to ahead of Head to divert into the net. It was the first of many times that Head was found wanting from crosses into the box.
Miles and Gault combined to excellent effect down right hand channel but debutant Lee Cooper was just beaten to the ball into the box at the near post.
Cooper is a former Brighton & Hove Albion youth team defender signed from Southern League Bedfont Town. He came straight into the XI wide on the left and despite saying afterwards that he felt a little lost in a more advanced position that he is used to, he still marked his first appearance in Hassocks colours with what proved to be the winning goal.
It came right on the stroke of half time. Gault played Cooper in and he cut inside his marker before hitting a right footed shot which Head could only help in.
Hassocks’ conversion of chances has not been good enough this season, so they would have been happy to go in with a 2-0 lead from only five real opportunities.
Indeed, after the Robins’ initial flurry it was Crowborough who were the better side. Simpson was severely tested by former St Francis Rangers player Jake Forward, having to make an extraordinary save at full stretch.
The Hassocks number one was then fortunate not to concede a penalty. An ungainly and marginally late challenge left Tom Saunders needing lengthy treatment.
When Nathan Milroy hit a post and Marsh was forced into an impressive block from the rebound, there could be little argument that the Robins goal was leading a charmed life.
Cooper’s debut strike came out of the blue after all that and at the perfect time. Hassocks seemed content to sit back in the second half – much more so than they would have been had they gone into the interval just one ahead.
Crowborough have a healthy goal tally for the season so far but they never seriously threatened a comeback until that soft spot kick awarded with five minutes remaining.
Hassocks were first incensed when Harry Thompson was not flagged offside as he latched onto a ball over the top.
The Robins were further angered when Thompson stopped in his tracks upon entering the box, causing a minor collision with the chasing Andy Whittingham who could not check his momentum.
Thompson went to ground but not even his teammates had the heart to appeal. It was astonishing then when the penalty was awarded, leaving Saunders to blast the spot kick into the roof of the net.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Chris Maynard; James Westlake, Kieran O’Callaghan, Jamie Weston, Lee Cooper; Nathan Miles, Phil Gault.
Subs: Andy Whittingham (Cooper 60), Spencer Slaughter (Miles 77), Neil Kane, Ben Palmer (unused).
Starman: Kieran O’Callaghan.
