WOEFUL HASSOCKS HANDED HAMMERING BY BOTTOM CLUB SIDLESHAM
The frustrations of being a football supporter were aptly demonstrated at Sidlesham, where Hassocks responded to an excellent run of home form which had lifted them into third spot in the Division One table by being hammered 4-0 by the side sitting bottom.
Bleak surroundings, dreadful display, awful weather probably best sums up a miserable afternoon from one of the longest away journeys of the season.
With the wind howling and intermittent rain falling, there were more people on the pitch as the game kicked off than there were watching. By full time, the home support in a crowd of just 25 could scarcely believe what they had seen.
Dave John was forced to shuffle his pack in the absence of James Laing, Nick Newman and Joe Fernley. John tried to compensate for the loss of Laing’s height in attack by using Graham Beveridge alongside Par Harding.
The experiment was not a success, primarily because the Robins missed Beveridge’s qualities in the middle of the park, where he had delivered two outstanding performances in the holding role in victories over Chichester City United and Worthing United.
Harding had a particularly frustrating afternoon as Hassocks were never able to get their dangerous marksman into the game. He visibly missed Laing and as the match developed – and the term match should be used very loosely – both team and individual effort fell way below par.
All of this came against a side without a league victory and whose manager aged over 50 was both named as a substitute on the bench and was acting as physio.
Understandably, Sidlesham lacked any sort of confidence at the start. But a woeful first half in terms of entertainment made them realise they had a chance of getting that first win under their belts.
Hassocks managed just one chance in the opening 45 minutes, a 30 yard free kick from Chris Hewitt tipped over by home goalkeeper Karl Watson.
Sidlesham were not much better but they did at least try to keep the ball on the ground, as evidenced in the three-pass move which gave the hosts the lead on 12 minutes.
Not for the last time, the Robins lost possession in midfield. Sidlesham worked the ball to rotund forward Wayne Emery, who drilled low and hard into the bottom corner.
There seemed little way things could be any worse in the second half. And for a brief while, proceedings did improve from a Hassocks point of view.
Sidlesham had a goal correctly disallowed when James Crawford clearly fouled Hewitt before the Robins took control. Beveridge saw a shot saved by the legs of Watson after a flowing move between Ian Dawson and Mickey Turner.
A fine run and cross from Anthony Hibbert on his return from a broken nose created a chance for Harding which the Sidlesham defence had to scramble clear.
John tried to force the issue of an equaliser further with a double change on 70 minutes. Andy Fisk and Hibbert headed off, Tom Stripp and Nathan Harvey came on with Stuart Faith pushed into midfield and Turner rolling back the years by joining Harding in attack.
The more positive approach duly delivered a goal to Sidelsham, Jamie Crawford tucking home a rebound after his first attempt had been well saved by Joel Harding.
That was game, set and match. But just to compound a dreadful, long and disappointing day out, Hassocks completely lost their shape as Sidlesham added two more late goals to the scoreline. Both came from Emery, who will never get a simpler hat-trick in his life.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Stuart Faith, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Low, Richard Thompson; Ian Dawson, Andy Fisk, Anthony Hibbert; Graham Beveridge, Pat Harding.
Subs: Tom Stripp (Fisk 70), Nathan Harvey (Hibbert 70), Sam Fisk (unused).
