HAILSHAM HOODOO HITS HASSOCKS AGAIN TO DENT TITLE HOPES
Hailsham Town has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for Hassocks. Their latest visit to the Beaconsfield ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat which has surely left their County League title aspirations over.
The Robins still sit second in the table but they are now 11 points behind leaders East Preston, who have looked in imperious form from the very first whistle back in August.
It seems like the only way anyone will catch EP is if there is an amazing collapse in results at the Lashmar. And even if that were to happen, Hassocks no longer look well-placed to be the side to take advantage with Mickey Jewell’s squad stretched to the absolute limit.
The Robins were never at the races against Hailsham, particularly in the first half. There was a noticeable improvement once Mark Price was introduced on 55 minutes but even that was not enough to make a convincing argument that Hassocks deserved to come home with anything from the afternoon.
A below-par performance got off to a bad start when the hosts took the lead with only three minutes played through a Drew Greenall strike.
Former Hassocks left back Andy Whittingham was allowed to come forward and cross into the box towards Greenall. The Stringers striker had his back to goal when he received the pass with the subsequent quick turn and shot seeming to catch young Alex Harris by surprise.
Hailsham were first to every 50-50 whilst Hassocks could barely string more than two passes together on what was admittedly a difficult surface.
The Robins though had different options; they could have utilised the pace of Craig Knowles better by going long rather than insisting on trying to knock the ball around.
Hailsham had no such qualms in adopting a more agricultural approach, both in terms of taking the aerial route and in turning the game into a physical battle.
Hassocks were left frustrated by what they felt was inconsistent refereeing from Martyn Mulligan. Mr Mulligan seemed to penalise the Robins in incidents the equivalent of which Hailsham were allowed to get away with.
That was summed up by Hassocks picking up more first half booking than they managed shots on goal. Jamie Ingham and Phil Gault being the guilty parties to have their names taken by the man in the middle.
Gault had the only Hassocks opportunity of the opening 45, a rare foray forward from the Robins leading their talismanic striker to see an effort denied by a last ditch block from home defender Tom Porter.
Hailsham had two good chances to double their lead before the break. Harris kept out Danny Leach followed by Harry Mills firing wide when well placed.
Jewell gave his side 10 minutes of the second half to show some sort of improvement and when none was forthcoming, he made changes.
Price replaced Rob South as Hassocks switched to a back three. With their diminutive playmaker now scheming in the middle of the park, the Robins were galvanised.
Simon Levitt soon needed to make his first save of the afternoon when pushing away a Gault effort. In committing so many bodies forward however, there was always the danger that Hassocks would leave themselves vulnerable on the counter.
And that was where the second Hailsham goal came from on 64 minutes. Leach led a breakaway and his cross was tucked home by Steve Dallaway.
17-year-old George Brown had been one of the only Robins players able to get his foot on the ball in a decent personal display full of nice touches.
Brown was desperately unlucky not to mark his first league start with a goal when his thunderous free kick from 25 yards crashed against the crossbar with Levitt a spectator.
Greenall chipped over at the other end when Hailsham launched another counter, after which Hassocks forced a succession of chances.
Anthony Hibbert and Knowles both had efforts blocked in an almighty scramble Hailsham somehow escaped unscathed from.
The Robins pulled a goal back in the first minute of injury time via a sublime strike from outside the box by Nick Pitcher which arrowed straight into the top corner.
Hailsham nerves became increasingly frayed after that as Mr Mulligan found an inexplicable seven minutes of added time.
Hassocks threw everything they had at grabbing an equaliser. In the final few seconds, Knowles found himself in space but his effort was cleared off the line and over the bar in remarkable fashion by Chris Norman to deny the Robins a dramatic point.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Chris Maynard; Jamie Ingham, Dan Jacques, Anthony Hibbert, George Brown; Craig Knowles, Phil Gault.
Subs: Mark Price (South 55), Tom Davess (Maynard 65), Aaron Czech (Jacques 84).
Starman: Not easy but it goes to Mark Price for his efforts in the second half.
