Champions elect EP prove too good for Robins side leading the chasing pack
This meeting between the teams who started the day as the top two in Sussex County Division One underlined just what a gulf in quality exists between East Preston and the rest.
Hassocks were well beaten 4-0 by the big-spending league leaders at the Beacon – and whilst the Robins were without plenty of players, even with a full strength XI they would have struggled to keep pace with an outstanding EP outfit.
Had either Nathan Miles or Phil Johnson been available to help out Phil Gault in attack, Hassocks might have carried more of a threat to the goal of popular former Robins number one, Joel Harding.
But for that to happen, Hassocks would have needed the ball. Something they saw virtually nothing of during the first half in particular.
EP boss Dom Di Paolo said afterwards it was his side’s best performance of the campaign so far. His challenge now is keeping his players fully focussed.
Having let a nine-point lead at Christmas last year slip to finish third behind Peacehaven & Telscombe and Redhill, EP will surely not allow the same to happen this time around.
Early signs were ominous for Hassocks. EP should have gone ahead after just four minutes. Mike Huckett got the ball past Robins goalkeeper Alex Harris, only for Ashley Marsh to chase back and brilliantly clear off the line in the nick of time.
Harris had absolutely no chance with the opening goal on 18 minutes, a 35 yard blockbuster from the experienced Darren Boswell.
The teenage Hassocks stopper will probably feel he should have done better, however, when failing to hold a Boswell free kick just two minutes later. Charlie Farmer was on hand to double the advantage by tucking home the rebound.
Harding was afforded a warm welcome from the home crowd before kick off, as you would expect for a player who made 340 appearances for the Robins after coming through the youth system.
It was not until the 42st minute that Hassocks got close to testing him. Mark Price sent over a free kick which eluded everyone on its way towards the back post. Nick Pitcher was lurking but could only fire into the side netting.
Jamie Ingham was replaced by Nathan Cooper at the break, making his first appearance after a lengthy injury absence.
Cooper became increasingly influential as the half wore on and Hassocks belatedly began to threaten, making his return the biggest bright spot for home connections.
Before that though, the second 45 began where the first had left off – with EP dominant. Kevin Keehan had a shot blocked and Farmer headed a corner over as the Robins remained well and truly under the cosh.
Anthony Hibbert had his brother-in-law Harding scrambling with a 25 yard free kick which was close enough to nick the outside of the post on its way wide.
That proved to be EP’s cue to fire another swift double salvo, starting with Boswell scoring his second of the afternoon on 66 minutes.
Shaheen Sadough turned Marsh and released Baitup, whose cross was finished from a tight angle by Boswell.
When Harris could only parry a Huckett strike three minutes later, Joe Shelley was on hand to add the fourth with a neat back heel.
The final 10 minutes saw the Robins muster a couple of chances. The best came when Cooper played a magnificent ball to put captain Dan Stokes through, only for the Under 18s captain to fire wide.
Come the full time whistle and most of the largest Hassocks home crowd of the campaign of 170 left convinced they had seen this season’s champions in the shape of EP.
Mixed in with that admiration was a fair amount of disbelief that referee Kevin Roberts had managed to dispense seven yellow cards in what was a good tempered match.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Alex Gathern, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Tom Davess; Jamie Ingham, Anthony Hibbert, Mark Price, Aaron Czech; Dan Smith, Phil Gault.
Subs: Nathan Cooper (Ingham 45), Dan Stokes (Czech 53), Zak Dove (Price 70).
Starman: Nathan Cooper was a positive influence on his return from injury.
