Robins make flying start to new season by sinking Sparrows
A new era began for Hassocks Ladies in the Sussex County Women’s Premier Division with a 5-2 win over Horsham Sparrows.
The Robins have a new manager and a new-look squad and this was their first league game together.
Last weekend had seen an impressive performance in their opening competitive match, a close-fought 3-2 Adobe Women’s FA Cup first qualifying round defeat to Abbey Rangers.
Rangers play at a higher level in the Southern Region Women’s League, so to push them all the way bodes well for the season ahead.
Sofia Harding scored both the Hassocks goals on her debut against Abbey. The niece of Robins legend and new chairman Super Pat is one of several recruits brought into refresh the team.
Most of those have come from the Juniors section, along with new manager Mark Dalgleish. The former men’s first team boss was in charge of the Juniors last season and so his appointment was a natural and obvious way to make the transition into adult football for those players easier.
With a combination of new faces and retaining some experienced campaigners who have been at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground for several years, the Robins are hoping to stabalise following last season’s difficult campaign in the London & South East Regional League.
Dalgleish gave league debuts in his starting XI to Harding and Elsa Cutlack. Milly Dalgleish was a third teenager involved, having impressed when breaking into the side in the second half of the previous campaign. There were also first league outings from the bench for Matilda Lane and Katie Lawson.
Milly Dalgleish got onto the scoresheet but the other four goals came from three long-serving players who were all part of the squad which won this division in 2022-23.
Katherine Chappell scored a phenomenal 30 goals in just 13 appearances during that campaign and did not need long to get up and running here, bagging a brace for the Robins.
Kirstin Mair plundered 10 in 14 matches from midfield in 2022-23 and also got on the scoresheet against the Sparrows. The Robins goals were rounded off by substitute Jodie Johanson.
Particularly pleasing for Hassocks was the way in which they managed a little wobble at the start of the second half.
Leading 3-0 going into the break, quick-fire goals in the 50th and 55th minutes from Sparrows substitutes Ellie Barry and Lucie Francis threatened to derail the Robins.
But Hassocks regrouped and added two more to ruthlessly end the Sparrows fightback in front a good-sized crowd.
Hassocks: Ellie Moquet, Claire Stevens, Elsa Cutlack, Katie Read, Emma Flin, Tallie Bright, Milly Dalgleish, Jess Craig, Kirstin Mair, Sofia Harding, Katherin Chappell.
Subs: Mia Pordage, Jodie Johanson, Many Morgan, Matilda Lane, Katie Lawson (used).
