AMOS GETS HIS GOAL TO SET HASSOCKS ROLLING IN RUR
Matt Amos has been threatening a first senior goal for several weeks now. It finally arrived and at the perfect time for Hassocks, a crisp 89th minute volley securing a 2-1 Sussex RUR Charity Cup win at Wick.
The Robins’ reward is a winnable third round home tie with Division Two opponents Seaford Town. Might this be the season Hassocks finally end their long wait for a trophy?
Extra time was looming large with the scores locked at 1-1 when Amos struck. Mickey Turner put in a superb delivery from the right which Amos met first time with his left foot from eight yards out.
You could see how much it meant to the 17-year-old with the way he celebrated. His teammates too were clearly delighted for him.
The excitement was even greater amongst the travelling contingent. Or to be more precise, Amos’ father, who almost ended up tumbling over the perimeter fence and onto the pitch.
Mr Amos will probably need to get used to the feeling that comes with seeing his son score. Dave John said earlier in the season that he believed once Amos got his account up and running, the goals would start flowing regularly. That theory will now be tested.
Amos’ goal capped a very exciting tie which ebbed and flowed. Both sides could justifiably claim they deserved to win as chances were frequently exchanged in an end-to-end encounter.
John and Wick manager Carl Stabler have been locking horns for years. They know each other well and have reputations for believing in youth; something that was evident from their respective starting XIs.
Wick were lively up front through Phil Turner and Jason Power. They also had a couple of tricky midfielders in Tom Manton and Matt Axell, who the Robins midfield trio of Matt Robbins, Anthony Hibbert and Stuart Faith did well to counter.
Joel Harding was first called into action on 12 minutes to deny Turner with his legs. Harding’s opposite number Simon Davey then saved from Hibbert.
Amos was next to test Davey with a fine turn and shot which the Wick goalkeeper tipped over at full stretch.
Grant Vanson shot low but Harding was equal to it before Hassocks took the lead on the 30 minute mark.
Hibbert delivered a corner headed in by Mark Sheriff, much to the obvious surprise of his teammates and indeed the diminutive striker himself.
Sheriff missed a good chance to double the lead just before the interval. Another Hassocks teenager in Sam Fisk exchanged passes with Robbins to tee up Sheriff, who shot wastefully off target.
Early in the second half and a lovely clip up the line from Ashley Marsh sent Amos scampering away down the left. He cut inside but again Davey proved equal to it with a fine save.
Hassocks now seemed to be taking control. Amos drew an almost identical tip over from Davey as in the first half.
Davey then messed up clearing a back pass, gifting the ball straight to Sheriff. The goal was gaping but the angle too difficult, leaving Sheriff unable to guide the ball into the empty net.
Almost immediately, the Robins were made to regret not getting a two-goal cushion as Wick equalised.
A long ball from midfield caught out the Hassocks defence to find Manton. He beat Harding with a clinical finish from inside the box.
Neither side seemingly wanted an additional 30 minutes as both went for the win in the final half hour.
Sheriff had a shot cleared off the line, Ben Torode fired wide and Power extended Harding with a distance drive.
No player on the pitch had worked harder than Amos though and his tireless shift was rewarded with that winning goal right at the death.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Pete Lear, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Marsh, Sam Fisk; Matt Robbins, Stuart Faith, Anthony Hibbert; Matt Amos, Mark Sheriff.
Subs: Chris Brown, Spencer Slaughter, Nathan Harvey (unused).
Starman: Matt Amos. Worked tirelessly and got his reward with a sweet finish.
