DEPLETED ROBINS FALL SHORT IN BID FOR SENIOR CUP HISTORY
Down to the barest of bones, it was little surprise that Hassocks were unable to advance to the semi finals of the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in their history.
Dave John’s depleted side were beaten 1-0 by fellow County League Division One outfit Shoreham at the Beacon, who also eliminated the Robins from the FA Cup earlier in the season by the same scoreline.
This clash had been hastily arranged with Hassocks only booking their quarter final spot by beating Chichester City 1-0 on Tuesday night.
The Robins had been knocked out of the competition by Bognor Regis Town in round two but when it came to light that the Rocks had played an ineligible player, Hassocks were reinstated.
John was delighted by the news, although not for reasons like landing a plum money spinning draw with one of the big clubs in Sussex football.
Playing back-to-back Senior Cup ties meant Jack Simpson and Ashley Marsh missing only one league game in the battle to retain Division One status as part of their three game suspensions, incurred for controversial red cards in the abandoned match against Selsey last month.
With Simpson’s normal deputy Phil Wickwar ruled out with flu, Hassocks handed a senior debut to 19-year-old reserve team goalkeeper Jason Gander.
One had to feel for Gander as he conceded what proved to be the only goal of the game after just five minutes to a strike he could do absolutely nothing about.
Dean Smith will surely not hit a better shot in his life, sending the ball over the head of the helpless Gander to pick out the top corner from a full 30 yards.
Gander did some good things after that and he was certainly busier than opposite number Michael Hunter. Neither goalkeeper could claim to be overworked however in what was a game of few chances where defences came out on top.
Stuart Faith was stand-in skipper in the absence of Marsh and he led by example alongside the rugged Sol Bowra, again underlining his potential.
The back three of Faith, Bowra and Ian Simpson were well protected by the prominent Spencer Slaughter, doing a disciplined and mature job in the holding midfield role.
Going forward, Hassocks did not manage to create an opportunity in the first half. In fact, it was very much a repeat of the fortunate midweek win over Chi as only in the final quarter hour did the Robins did any sort of threatening.
Their first chance came with 12 minutes remaining. It was a good one too, Slaughter finding Aaron Walsh in the middle.
Walsh produced an excellent first touch with his chest to move away from a Shoreham defender. Unfortunately, the finish could not match that piece of control as the former Lindfield striker put his effort well off target.
That finish aside, Walsh deserved credit for the way he put himself about as a lone striker with both service and support limited.
The rookie offered hope that something might happen in spite of the significant gap between himself and James Laing, the experienced half of the strike partnership playing much deeper than normal.
After waiting so long for a sniff of goal, Hassocks conjured up another opportunity three minutes after Walsh’s miss.
Big defender Ian Simpson met an Anthony Hibbert free kick with a towering header which had Hunter beaten but crashed against the bar. The loose ball bounced down into the box but unfortunately Laing could not capitalise on the rebound.
John was limited when it came to trying to impact the game from the bench. Jamie Buckett was feeling under the weather and so remained unused.
Also unused was veteran midfielder Graham Beveridge, who came out of retirement for the day just so Hassocks had three substitutes.
The one change Hassocks did make was forced. Richard Thompson twinged his back and was withdrawn at half time as a precaution. Ian Dawson switched from right wing back to left with Dan Jacques coming on.
Jacques offered a different threat down the right and put in some testing crosses as part of the improved second half showing from the hosts.
Hassocks could have done with Laurence Robinson but in another sign of the Robins’ priorities, John told the young striker to take the weekend off and not travel back from university in Kent. Robinson has been struggling in recent weeks with a knee issue.
Hassocks: Jason Gander; Ian Dawson, Sol Bowra, Stuart Faith, Ian Simpson, Richard Thompson; Anthony Hibbert, Spencer Slaughter, Adam Williams; James Laing, Aaron Walsh.
Subs: Dan Jacques (Thompson 45), Jamie Buckett, Graham Beveridge (unused).
Starman: Aaron Walsh.
