SLAUGHTER BACK WITH A BRACE BUT IT IS UNCONVINCING FROM HASSOCKS
Their second half performance was far from convincing, but Hassocks still managed to come away from AFC Uckfield with a 3-1 victory which moved the Robins into fourth spot in County League Division One.
A first half brace from the returning Spencer Slaughter following an early Phil Gault strike were enough to see off a spirited young Uckfield side who made much more of a game of it than seemed possible with Hassocks leading 3-0 at the break.
The hosts have taken some fair beatings in recent weeks. Their previous two outings had seen seven and nine goals conceded following the departure of manager Kevin Laundon from the Oaks along with 18 players.
Hassocks looked eager to heap further misery on Uckfield and it did not take long for Gault to make his mark, opening the scoring with just seven minutes on the clock to move onto 97 goals for the Robins.
A Jamie Weston pass released Gault to finish after he had beaten the offside trap in an Uckfield defence marshalled by ex-Robins centre back Matt Carruthers and former Eastbourne United Association captain Lee Jules.
Both Carruthers and Jules had been recruited in midweek following the Oakmen’s 9-2 drubbing at Sidley on Tuesday night and they helped their new club keep the score to one right up until the final five minutes of the half when Slaughter struck a quickfire double.
That is not to say that Hassocks had no chances. Anthony Hibbert, Dan Smith and Slaughter all fired good opportunities wide or over the bar.
Slaughter in particular looked sharp after his long injury layoff and he soon reminded the travelling support of what he can bring to the party by scoring his first goal of the season followed two minutes later by his second.
First Slaughter made a strong run into the box and drilled home a low Smith cross at the back post on 40 minutes.
He then followed Gault in springing the Uckfield offside trap and beating James Broadbent with a cool effort slotted below the advancing Oakmen goalkeeper.
Hassocks had it relatively easy at the other end during the opening 45 minutes. James Plumley was called into action only once, clawing away a fine 30 yard effort from George Callingham. Another rare attack saw Stuart Faith scramble clear a cross from the lively Charlie Shearing.
Neither Rob South nor Lee Bryant in the full back positions were particularly troubled throughout the afternoon.
Bryant in particular shone to take the Starman award just ahead of Slaughter, whose 83 minutes without any setback would have pleased manager Mickey Jewell.
Uckfield were improved after the break which should give their own management cause for optimism about the future.
Their new-look side were clearly growing accustomed to playing with each other as the game wore on, helped by Hassocks sitting back too often and inviting the home side on.
The second half was only five minutes old when Uckfield reduced the deficit, Jamie Selby-Knight slotting home from 18 yards after Ashley Marsh failed to get quite enough purchase on a clearing header.
That gave the hosts renewed confidence and they soon set about trying to cause more problems for Hassocks. Plumley had to be alert to palm away a Dan Waterman effort and the same player then blazed over on the angle when he should have at least hit the target.
Gault had the Robins’ best chance of the second half, drawing a smart stop from Broadbent after more good work from Smith drifting into a wide position.
That proved to be Smith’s last contribution as on the hour mark he made way for debutant Dan Wilmott, a new signing once of Three Bridges.
Hassocks were content to see out the game in the time that Wilmott was on the pitch, knowing that sterner tests lie on the horizon as they bid to maintain their position amongst the County League pacesetters.
Hassocks: James Plumley; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Lee Bryant; James Westlake, Anthony Hibbert, Spencer Slaughter, Jamie Weston; Dan Smith, Phil Gault.
Subs: Dan Wilmott (Smith 60), Nathan Miles (Slaughter 83).
Starman: Good to see Spencer Slaughter back, but just goes to Lee Bryant for a solid game at left back.
