STUNNING SLAUGHTER STRIKE STINGS SURPRISED WASPS
Only eight minutes had been played at the GAC Stadium when Spencer Slaughter hit a Goal of the Season contender to give Hassocks a 1-0 victory over East Grinstead Town.
Slaughter was 30 yards out and slightly to the right when he struck a stunning curling effort. It bent straight into the top corner, giving the Robins three points against an East Grinstead side much-fancied to do well.
The Wasps have strengthened their squad radically after being in a relegation scrap for much of last season. They eventually finished 15th, three points above 18th and 14 clear of bottom side Mile Oak.
Hassocks though look a different beast as well, competitive and competent. This result made it seven unbeaten under Mickey Jewell, who missed the game holidaying. Assistant boss Mark Dalgleish seamlessly took the reigns.
One of the biggest alterations in approach Jewell and Dalgleish have made is to heavily rotate their squad.
Hassocks again made changes from the XI who defeated Farnham Town 3-2 in the FA Cup on Saturday thanks to an injury time Sam Jeremiah winner.
Despite his weekend heroics, Jeremiah was one of the three players Jewell and Dalgleish opted to rest to the bench, alongside Daley Clark and Anthony Hibbert.
Slaughter came into midfield, Chris Maynard on the left flank and Pete Lear joined Ashley Marsh at centre back with Kieran O’Callaghan pushed further forward in place of Clark.
It did not take long for Slaughter to make his mark, setting the tone for a first half which provided plenty of entertainment for a decent sized crowd.
Phil Gault and Neil Kane looked most likely to add to Slaughter’s strike for the Robins. Gault saw one effort correctly ruled out for offside and then headed wide at the far post from a Maynard corner.
In between those chances, the tireless Kane drew a good save low down from Wasps goalkeeper Adam Woodward.
East Grinstead enjoyed the lion’s share of possession through the opening 45 minutes and looked good going forward, but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.
That being said, Jack Simpson was required to make an incredible double save to deny Liam Baitup and then John Sinclar to keep Hassocks in front going into the break.
Simpson was pretty much untroubled in the second half thanks to excellent performances from Marsh and Lear at the heart of the Robins defence.
O’Callaghan meanwhile did a fine job in the important screening role, frequently winning the ball for Hassocks and getting them playing on the break.
The Robins put together several exciting counters from the first minute of the second half as they came out all guns blazing.
Slaughter and Gault just failed to get on the end of a cross from the lively Lee Waterhouse. Kane somehow managed to blaze over from six yards out with the goal at his mercy and Gault had a header blocked.
A rare sight of goal for East Grinstead saw Luke Piscina fire well wide. Dalgleish resisted the temptation to make substitutions early, only turning to Hibbert and Jeremiah to replace Slaughter and Kane respectively in the final 12 minutes.
The in-form Jeremiah soon made his mark, running at the Wasps defence before pulling across goal to Maynard for a shot well blocked.
Dalgleish declared himself very happy with his side’s evening work afterwards and no doubt Jewell would have been too when he heard the full time result.
The Robins will aim to make it eight games without defeat under their new management when travelling to just outside Southampton this weekend to face Zamaretto Premier Division outfit Blackfield & Langley in the FA Vase.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Luke Akehurst, Ashley Marsh, Pete Lear, Andy Whittingham; Lee Waterhouse, Kieran O’Callaghan, Phil Gault, Spencer Slaughter, Chris Maynard; Neil Kane.
Subs: Anthony Hibbert (Slaughter 78), Sam Jeremiah (Kane 85), Daley Clark, Stuart Brown, Richard Thompson (unused).
