Gunn fires Hassocks to three important points at the YMCA
Matt Gunn chose the ideal time to open his account for Hassocks with the only goal of the game at Horsham YMCA.
It gave the Robins a winning start to what looks like being a pivotal Easter Weekend in the Southern Combination Premier Division playoff race.
Two games in 48 hours, local derbies on Monday morning which are notoriously unpredictable and several of the top five contenders facing each other means the promotion picture could look much clearer by the time Easter is over.
Or it might be even more confused. Nobody would have predicted Newhaven losing for only the third time this season when hosting relegation threatened Bexhill United, for example.
What that result at the Trafalgar Ground shows is that winning games by hook or by crook is all that matters at this stage of the campaign.
Which is why at the same time as Newhaven found themselves sunk by the Pirates, Hassocks could be very pleased with their afternoon at the Herbert Direct Stadium.
“It wasn’t pretty and scrappy throughout but all about the three points,” said James Westlake afterwards.
“An incredible effort from everyone to match the club’s points record for a season,” added Westlake, with Hassocks now having equalled the 72 Premier Division points put on the board by Mickey Jewell’s side in 2011-12.
YM assistant manager Andy Howard in contrast cut a disappointed figure, his side having slipped to a fourth defeat in a row – all by narrow margins to teams in the top half of the table.
“Another frustrating afternoon for us,” Howard told the West Sussex County Times. “We had at least as much possession and created as many chances, holding our own against a strong side but again we got nothing from it.”
Gunn fired the Robins ahead on 27 minutes, pulling the trigger in a six yard box scramble when a Joe Bull corner was returned into the box at the second attempt.
The wild celebrations amongst the strong travelling contingent were testament to the popularity Gunn has gained since his summer switch from AFC Varndeanians.
Both sides racked up chances prior to Gunn striking. Sekou Toure scuffed a good opportunity wide at one end, followed by Sean Stephenson forcing home goalkeeper Aaron Jeal into a sprawling save.
YM lost captain Hayden Neathey to a heel injury six minutes after Hassocks took the lead, his place being taken by experienced campaigner Ashley Dugdale.
The Robins did their best to take advantage of the disruption. Faris Khalloqui came close to doubling the advantage with Jack Troak firing into the side netting shortly after.
Some Hassocks supporters gathered on the opposite side thought Troak had scored; it was only when Dan Turner shouted over to the sideline that they realised they were celebrating a YM goal kick.
That was not the only moment of comedy involving Turner, the defender picking up an early booking with 15 minutes on the clock for a wonderful handball.
The Robins did manage to put the ball in the back of the net for a second time, only for the goal to be disallowed to the relief of YM.
More injury problems beset the home side on the stroke of half time when Toure was taken off with a suspected concussion.
YM almost made light of seeing their top scorer forced off when Toure’s strike partner Josh Neathey was not far away with a long range effort.
The game continued to ebb and flow after the interval. Troak should have done better with a header placed straight at Jeal. Raging Bull then charged forward from left back to shoot just wide.
For YM, Jamie Taylor led from the front and on another day might have got on the end of a couple of crosses to test Trigwell.
The final 10 minutes brought a flurry of YM substitutes and chances for both sides. Turner and Gunn nearly made the most of two more dangerous set piece deliveries as Hassocks looked for a killer second.
YM meanwhile were almost rewarded for their boldness in throwing on three attack-minded players from the bench in quick succession.
Two free kicks were earned by the hosts in injury time, taken by Dean Lovegrove. The first whistled just over the bar and the second ended up being the final kick of the game, drawing what proved a match-winning save from Fraser Trigwell low down to his right.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell; Harvey Blake, Matt Gunn, Dan Turner, Joe Bull; Sean Stephenson, Josh Mundy, Mike Williamson, Pat Harding; Faris Khalloqui; Jack Troak.
Subs: Micael Fatela, Alfie Loversidge (used), Leon Turner, Tom Frankland, Jamie Wilkes (unused).
Starman: Matt Gunn.
