SPOT ON SIDLEY MAKE ROBINS PAY THE PENALTY PRICE
Conceding two penalties in the space of 13 second half minutes proved a mountain too big for Hassocks to climb as they went down 4-2 away at Sidley United.
The Robins were trailing to a Kevin Rose header when Stuart Faith tripped the lively Blues forward for a clear cut spot kick on 51 minutes, fired home by Peter Baker.
Hassocks could have no complaints about that award but they were rightly left incensed when Rose theatrically went to ground after turning Ashley Marsh.
The assistant referee was suitably fooled, waving his flag to signal for a foul. Baker sent Joel Harding the wrong way this time to give Sidley a 3-0 advantage just part the hour mark.
Away frustrations with the officials were not just restricted to that second penalty. Hassocks felt they deserved a spot kick of their own in first half stoppage time.
Early Sidley substitute Callum Wooler blatantly blocked a Mickey Turner cross with his arm but the same assistant who would go onto flag in Selsey’s favour got the decision equally wrong by waving play on.
Whilst it might read so far like Hassocks were robbed, they still had enough chances to make the long journey back from Gullivers Sports Ground with something to show for their efforts.
United goalkeeper Peter Newstead was in formidable form, however, making a series of outstanding saves to restrict the Robins to two goals which proved no more than consolations.
The game started pretty evenly until the lively Rose headed home a Baker cross from close range on 14 minutes after young Marsh misjudged a clearing header.
Rose then squandered a golden chance from six yards out when miss-kicking with only Harding to beat.
Hassocks responded by almost equalising immediately. Anthony Hibbert surprised everyone with a short free kick to Turner, whose shot was parried away by Newstead. Stuart Faith got to the loose ball first but his follow up effort was scrambled off the line.
James Laing then brought a top class save from the fingertips of Newstead with a powerful header from a good Hibbert delivery.
Next it was the turn of Pat Harding to be denied by Newstead, the Sidley goalkeeper using his legs to block.
Still the Robins continued to press for an equaliser. Harding headed over and shot wide. Faith connected brilliantly with a volley from 20 yards but Newstead again proved equal, pushing the effort away at full stretch for a corner.
Arguably the most crucial opportunity not taken by Hassocks came right after half time. Harding sprung the offside trap and rounded Newstead but Laing just failed to stretch far enough with the goal at his mercy.
Had Laing converted, things might have turned out differently. Instead, United were awarded their first penalty to double the lead. Between that and penalty number two on 64, Newstead foiled Harding once more.
Hassocks finally managed to beat Newstead five minutes after falling 3-0 behind. It was admittedly via luck more than judgement, a Harding corner hitting sub Matt Simpson and rebounding into the net.
The Robins joy was short lived as Sidley added their fourth minutes later, Joe McCarthy heading home at the back post from an excellent Liam Barham cross.
Hassocks to their credit never gave up. Harding reduced the deficit again, magnificently tucking home from the acutest of angles after managing to go around Newstead for the second time of the afternoon.
The final 10 minutes brought three further chances for Hassocks. Turner fired over, another Laing header was tipped around the post by Newstead and Harding blasted high when well placed.
Ultimately, it was one of those days for the Robins on what was remarkably their first Division One away game of the season having opened the campaign with four consecutive home fixtures.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Mickey Turner, Kieron Leahy, Chris Hewitt, Ashley Marsh, Richard Thompson; Stuart Faith, Chris Brown, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Pat Harding.
Subs: Matt Simpson (Hibbert 68), Sam Fisk (Faith 85) Chris Deare (unused).
Starman: Pat Harding, never stopped running and a constant threat. On another day he could have had a hat-trick.
