INGHAM LAST MINUTE MAGIC CAPS MAGNIFICENT CUP COMEBACK
Games between Hassocks and Lingfield are usually full of controversy and entertainment and this RUR Cup meeting was no different as Hassocks rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2 thanks to some stoppage time magic from Jamie Ingham.
The talented midfielder capped a man of the match performance with a ghosting run that began 30 yards out, took him past a multitude of bodies into the box and ended with a strike that went in via the post to set up a third round tie away at Horsham YMCA.
That outcome looked far from likely in the first half as the visitors stormed into a two-goal lead inside half an hour thanks to a stunning free kick from captain David Dean after a soft foul was awarded against Nathan Cooper and a fine one-on-one effort from Joel Amos.
Before that both sides had chances to score in a frantic opening 20 minutes. On his 150th appearance for the Robins, Jack Simpson gifted Lingfield a golden opportunity when he was caught in possession after uncharacteristically dwindling on a back pass but luckily for the goalkeeper the resulting effort from Kieran Boon hit the bar.
Hassocks then had a strong penalty appeal waved away by referee David Barnard when a Phil Gault free-kick was well parried by Scott Millar and the rebound appeared to hit a defending hand in the resulting melee.
After the sucker punch of those two visitors’ goals in quick succession, Hassocks wide men Craig Knowles and Dan Jacques switched flanks and it had an instant impact when Knowles sent in a deep cross from the right that was headed home by Gault.
It wasn’t just those earlier penalty appeals falling on deaf ears that had the home side directing their anger at the referee at half time.
Dan Smith – making his first appearance of the season after dual registering from Lewes – was struck in the head during an off the ball clash with Dean.
Somehow, Mr Barnard concluded that it warranted a yellow card for both the Hassocks striker and the offending defender which seemed like utter madness unless there is a new Football Association directive which involves booking those who are elbowed in the face.
That led to an intriguing personal battle between the two in the second half as Dean became increasingly frustrated with what he considered to be theatrics on the part of Smith as the forward tormented the visiting backline.
It was from one such instance that the equaliser arrived. Gault played a delicious ball over the top which led to Jay Kamala making a clumsy challenge on Smith inside the box as the striker was bearing down on goal.
Despite Dean’s claims of a dive, a penalty was awarded which Gault dispatched confidently, although again Mr Barnard drew the ire of the crowd as he felt the need to only caution Kamala despite him being the last man.
That goal took Gault onto 132 for the Robins, moving him past Pat Harding into second place in the all-time senior scoring list and with James Laing’s club record of 143 now firmly in his sights.
With Hassocks having the fresher legs following the introduction of Anthony Hibbert and young Aaron Czech into midfield, most of those inside the Beacon sensed a victory could now be on the cards.
Having said that, the Robins would probably have been dead and buried without the intervention of Simpson. The Hassocks number one produced an absolutely stunning save, diving full stretch at the feet of Dominic Luggard to maintain parity going into the final 10.
The win was sealed in the 93rd minute after the industrious Knowles found Ingham and the midfielder did the rest with his moment of individual brilliance.
There was still time for Simpson to make another decent stop as he advanced from his line to deny Dan Taylor with what turned out to be the last touch of a memorable encounter.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Chris Maynard; Dan Jacques, Jamie Ingham, Nathan Cooper, Craig Knowles; Dan Smith, Phil Gault.
Subs: Anthony Hibbert (Cooper 72), Aaron Czech (Jacques 82), Mark Price (unused).
Starman: Jamie Ingham hardly wasted a pass all evening and capped things off with the stoppage time winner.
