Debutant Spooner earns depleted Robins valuable point against Saltdean
Despite being without several first choice players, Hassocks Ladies managed a very credible 1-1 draw with a talented Saltdean United Development side at the Beacon.
Those who were available performed superbly, along with two debutants, to help the Robins to a deserved share of the points against opponents who had beaten them 4-1 in the League Cup quarter finals in the previous meeting.
Saltdean started brightly and as early as the second minute, Hassocks skipper Claire Stevens had to be alert to affect a clearance.
The visitors then shot wide from a free kick and had another effort saved by the Robins’ stand-in goalkeeper Ellie Moquet.
Hassocks responded and a great cross from one of the new players, Emily Spooner, found the head of Mia Pordage. The Saltdean keeper made a brilliant save, but Pordage would have been denied anyway as the offside flag was up.
It quickly became clear that the Tigers number one was going to act as a sweeper keeper and was soon rushing out of her area to clear as Hassocks looked to break.
Both sides continued to attack as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other. Stevens had to make a block before Moquet made two excellent saves in quick succession midway through the half. The first saw her produce a brave block and the second was a great reaction stop from the rebound.
Hassocks went back on the attack and a superb pass from Spooner played in Tallie Bright for a shot well saved. Although the Robins were battling well, Saltdean gradually began to get on top as half time approached.
Hassocks thought they had done enough to weather the storm, only for the Tigers to take the lead in the final minute before the break.
A high looping cross from Farrah Dorey found the top corner, meaning the sides headed off with Saltdean 1-0 ahead.
Robins manager Sean Perkins made a substitution early in the second half, introducing second debutant Alesha Simmons for Jess Gray.
There was also a tactical adjustment with Pordage being dropped back into midfield and Jemma Lindfield moving forward to join the attack.
The changes seemed to galvanise Hassocks, who achieved a much higher possession rate as a result. Simmons was quickly into the action with some good play which enabled Laura Turner to test the Saltdean goalkeeper with a powerful long range drive. Turner then had a chance to show her worth defensively when blocking an attempted cross.
Hassocks were rewarded for their dominance after the break with an equaliser on the hour mark. The goal was remarkably similar to how Saltdean had taken the lead, a cross from Spooner evading the Tigers defence and goalkeeper to find its way into the top corner.
It was the least Hassocks deserved and Spooner was a worthy scorer for what was turning into a very impressive debut.
Spooner came closest to finding a winner for the Robins in the remaining 30 minutes when going through one-on-one. The Saltdean goalkeeper made an excellent save at the expense of a corner.
From the resulting set piece, Spooner delivered. Stevens met the corner but could not quite manage to get enough on the header, which went narrowly wide.
Considering the depleted side Hassocks had, this was a great performance from the Robins with Saltdean one of the form teams in the Premier Division since the turn of the year.
Defenders Jo Brown, Emma Flin and Stevens were well supported by wing backs Bright and Katie Read in restricting Saltdean to few chances. This was true even in the first half, when the Tigers were on top in terms of possession.
Pordage and Turner helped turn things around after the break as they secured more of the ball in central midfield and Lindfield thrived showing her skill and experience further forward.
Spooner and Simmons look to be excellent additions to the squad having been pitched into a tough debut game. And the Bedlam Brewery Star Player award went to Moquet, who performed heroically with her three excellent first half saves proving vital to securing the point.
Hassocks: Ellie Moquet, Laura Turner, Emma Flin, Claire Stevens, Jo Brown, Tallie Bright, Emily Spooner, Jemma Lindfield, Jess Gray, Mia Pordage, Katie Read.
Subs: Alesha Simmons (used).
Bedlam Brewery Star Player: Ellie Moquet.
