Williamson and Harding give Robins victory at Varndeanians
One game at a time will be the mantra for Hassocks through 2024 as they look to secure the most unlikely of Southern Combination Premier Division playoff places.
To that end, they got the new year off to a good start with a professional performance and a 2-0 win away at AFC Varndeanians.
Goals in either half from Mike Williamson and Pat Harding secured three points from a fixture which had the look of a potential banana skin beforehand.
Varndeanians came into it in the midst of a new manager bounce. Club stalwart and former captain Lawrence Edwards assumed the hot seat for a second time at the end of November, having previously had a brief spell in temporary charge during Covid-19.
The Vs have subsequently pulled seven points clear of the relegation places, winning two of Edwards’ four games in charge.
They were also giving league leaders Newhaven an almighty fright at the Trafalgar Ground last weekend until ex-Robin Sam Rogers received a contentious red card early in the second half.
The Dockers ended up running out 6-2 winners but knew it could have been a different story had Varndeanians not been reduced to 10.
Having dropped points in two similarly tricky away ties at Bexhill United and Lingfield before Christmas, Hassocks knew they could not afford to be below-par at Withdean Stadium.
The Robins trailed in both those matches and so taking the lead was of paramount importance. After a slow start, it arrived for Hassocks from an unlikely source with 25 minutes on the clock.
Williamson had gone 60 games without a goal for Hassocks before breaking his duck when the Robins beat Saltdean United 4-0 at the end of November.
Now, he has two in seven games. Not quite worthy of wheeling out the London Buses maxim, but almost enough to proclaim Williamson prolific.
It was some strike too at the end of some pleasing build up. Joe Bull came forward from left back and fed a pass into Jack Troak, making his first start since fracturing a collarbone against Erith Town in the FA Cup back in August.
Troak laid off and Williamson did the rest, picking out the top corner with an absolute rocket from outside the box.
The versatile Troak shone in a new brief on his return. Josh Nandhra is dual-registered with Whitehawk and two Hassocks goals in as many games over the festive period saw him called into the Hawks’ squad for their Isthmian League Premier Division home game against Margate.
Troak was therefore asked to lead the line in the absence of Nandhra. It is a role he has fulfilled before when Brad Sweetman was Robins boss but not under James Westlake so far, who has preferred to put Troak’s cavalier style to good effect up and down the left flank.
It is often said that getting a player back from long-term injury is like making a new signing. That would be doubly true if Troak goes onto play as a striker more regularly, filling the void left by the departure of Liam Benson to Haywards Heath Town.
Hassocks were given a quick reminder not to take Varndeanians lightly when the hosts almost had an instant equaliser.
Another former Robin in Jude Wallis led an attack finished off by Adam Bukleb, which Hassocks were grateful to see a correctly raised flag rule out for offside.
Other than that, Fraser Trigwell was rarely troubled. It always felt like a second goal for the Robins always would be enough to secure victory and it duly arrived just past the hour mark.
Troak sent a deep free kick towards the back post where Alex Bygraves rose highest to nod back across goal.
When Varndeanians goalkeeper Elliot Dailly made a mess of collecting, Harding was on hand to poke home his ninth of the season.
That represented an instant impact for Super Pat, scoring with his first touch. He had only been introduced 60 seconds earlier along with Sean Stephenson as part of a double change replacing Alex Fair and Josh Mundy.
From that point on, the Robins were on easy street. Three comfortable points were in the bag to take back to the Beacon ahead of back-to-back home games with Loxwood and Little Common.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Harvey Blake, Alex Bygraves, Matt Gunn, Joe Bull; Leon Turner, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Alex Fair; Jamie Wilkes; Jack Troak.
Subs: Pat Harding (Fair 60), Sean Stephenson (Mundy 60), Julian Durand (Troak 66), Tom Frankland (Turner 79), B Tighe (92).
Starman: Jack Troak.
