ROBINS RETURN FROM PAGHAM POINTLESS ON THE OPENING DAY
There was disappointment all round for Hassocks on the opening day of the Sussex County League Division One season away against Pagham.
The Robins were beaten 1-0 in a scrappy, largely tedious affair. Dave John felt his side deserved a point but was left rueing several missed first half chances.
Worst of all, substitute Anthony Hibbert was taken to hospital with a nasty broken nose sustained not long after he had replaced Andy Fisk.
Hibbert now looks set to spend some time on the sidelines, although assurances have been given that the damage has not impacted too much on his good looks.
For as long as anyone can remember, Hassocks have been famously slow to get up and running at the start of a new campaign.
There was plenty of surprise amongst the away support then when the Robins went close twice in the opening five minutes.
Both opportunities fell to James Laing, who could not quite hit the target with either. Laing needs just four more goals to become only the second player after Robbie Kitchen to score 100 for Hassocks in senior football.
That frantic start gave false hope that entertainment would be in plentiful supply. Instead, the remaining 85 minutes essentially became a contest to see who could string more than three passes together.
Neither side excelled in that department. The lack of control was particularly marked, the ball often bouncing off players. In fairness, a dry and bumpy Nyetimber Lane surface did not really help anyone’s cause.
Laing did manage to hit the target on the quarter hour mark but Pagham goalkeeper Wes Hallett proved equal to it, producing a smart save.
Pat Harding then rattled a post midway through the first half. At the other end, his brother Joel was a virtual spectator as the Lions rarely threated.
When Pagham did muster their first opportunity close to half time, Lee Stevens beat Harding but not the woodwork. The ball cannoned back off the post where Nick Newman was on hand to clear to safety.
There was a little more to write about in the second half. The game settled down and chances came and went, although neither Harding nor Hallett were particularly worked.
Strangely, it was in the same phase of play that resulted in the best opportunity Hassocks had that Pagham scored the only goal of the game with 67 on the clock.
Hallett denied Joe Fernley and from the save, Tim Lester gained possession. Lester subsequently hit the pass of the match, a superb 45 yard angled aerial ball sent diagonally to the far post.
Darren Akmenkalns showed real determination to run the length of the pitch and get on the end of it, beating Harding with the finish.
Hassocks never looked like equalising in the 23 minutes remaining. Their cause was not lost by losing the creativity of Hibbert from the midfield so soon following his introduction, the substitute being substituted for Ian Dawson.
John could only name three substitutes; Hibbert, Dawson and young defender Steve Hudson. Resources were stretched by a number of players still having cricket commitments and the Reserves starting their season away at Hailsham Town on the same day with an excellent 5-1 victory.
The Reserves at least revert to Friday night football for the remainder of August, increasing the pool of talent available to John on a Saturday.
Hassocks will know improvement is needed ahead of the Tuesday night visit of one of the title favourites, Eastbourne Town, to the Beacon.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Nick Newman, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Low, Richard Thompson; Graham Beveridge, Andy Fisk, Joe Fernley; James Laing, Pat Harding.
Subs: Anthony Hibbert (Fisk), Ian Dawson (Hibbert), Steve Hudson (unused).
