HIBBERT HITS DOUBLE TO HELP HASSOCKS TO OPENING DAY WIN OVER MARIGOLDS
The opening day of the County League season saw Hassocks come from behind via a superb second half showing to score a 2-1 victory over Littlehampton Town.
Anthony Hibbert got both the Robins goals to see off visitors who many consider to be dark horses for the title.
Littlehampton won Division Two at a cantor last season but it was their cup form which really caught the eye. The Marigolds eliminated no less than eight higher division clubs from knockout competitions.
Hassocks were included in that number, losing at the Sportsfield in the quarter finals of the John O’Hara League Cup back in February.
There was clearly something about Mid Sussex’s senior outfits that Littlehampton liked as they also recorded shock wins against Burgess Hill Town and St Francis Rangers.
Missing the holidaying Phil Gault, Mickey Jewell opted to play a 4-5-1 formation with Nathan Miles ploughing a lonely furrow up front.
Miles’ hard work was solely responsible for the few half chances Hassocks created in an opening 45 minutes otherwise dominated by the Marigolds.
Littlehampton had enough possession and first half chances to put the game beyond doubt. It was only a combination of disciplined defending and wasteful finishing which meant the Robins went into break just one behind rather than two or three.
The Marigolds had already created a couple of good opportunities before taking the lead on 18 minutes. Hassocks were unconvincing in attempting to clear their lines, only succeeding in getting the ball out to Scott Packer on the left touchline.
Packer’s cross back into the box dropped over the head of Jack Simpson and into the back of the net with a little assistance from the wind.
Simpson is back at the Beacon after finishing last season at Worthing, although his return will last only until November when he heads off travelling.
The interval saw Jewell switch to 4-4-2 and introduce Phil Johnson up front. Jamie Ingham was the unfortunate sacrificial lamb on his first Hassocks appearance since 2008.
A series of knee injuries have restricted Ingham to playing in the Mid Sussex League over the past five years but he has been talked into a senior football comeback to help plug the gap left by some big-name summer departures from the Robins midfield.
Ingham will have a huge part to play over the coming months. This though was a game crying out for Johnson’s pace – and it did not take long for the lawman to make a difference.
Midway through the second half and Johnson burst into the Littlehampton box, where he was tripped by a visiting defender.
Referee Michael Ryan had no option other than to point to the spot. Hibbert did the rest by finishing with aplomb from 12 yards.
That was on 65 minutes. Just five later and Hibbert struck again to complete the turnaround. Laurence Robinson has forced his way back into first team contention after impressing in pre-season having enjoyed a goal-laden campaign for the treble winning Reserves last time out.
Robinson cut in from the left on a run halted illegally 25 yards out. Hibbert did the rest, completely bamboozling the Marigolds goalkeeper with a brilliant direct free kick.
Hassocks almost had a third another five minutes later when Miles found himself running clear on the counter, only to be denied by a fine last ditch tackle.
Littlehampton poured forward in the final 15 but could find no way through as the Robins held on, much to the delight of a bumper Beacon crowd of 150.
Included in that number were players from the club’s Juniors section, who received a coaching session on the pitch before the game and acted as mascots as part of the celebrations for Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Chris Maynard; Jamie Ingham, Anthony Hibbert, Nathan Cooper, Kieran O’Callaghan, Laurence Robinson; Nathan Miles.
Subs: Phil Johnson (Ingham 45), Jamie Hillwood (Robinson 77), Tom Davess, Ellis Common, Alex Harris (unused).
Starman: Anthony Hibbert scored both goals and worked especially hard in the first half to support Nathan Miles up front.
