SENSATIONAL SIMPSON SPOT ON TO EARN ROBINS A POINT
Jack Simpson marked his return from two months on the sidelines with a sensational double save from a last minute penalty which earned Hassocks a point away at Chichester City.
The Robins number one hadn’t played since injuring his shoulder away at Newhaven on August Bank Holiday Monday with reserve team goalkeeper Sam Brock, youth team goalkeeper Josh Green and veterans team goalkeeper Phil Wickwar all trying to fill his sizeable gloves in the meantime.
It’s pretty much an impossible job though such is Simpson’s importance to Hassocks and he highlighted that at Oaklands Park with a moment of sheer brilliance.
The game looked like it was meandering to a 0-0 draw, a just reward for a hard working Hassocks performance in which they’d doggedly repelled everything that Chi could thrown at them.
That was until referee Nigel Baker adjudged Nick Pitcher to have committed a foul in the Hassocks area and pointed to the spot, giving the hosts a golden opportunity to win the game with virtually the last kick.
The Robins were incensed at the award but their anger soon turned to joy. The penalty was a weak one, placed straight down the middle but Simpson was already going left when it was struck, the goalkeeper adjusting in midair to stick out a leg and keep out the initial strike.
That was impressive enough but better was to come from the rebound. The loose ball fell straight to the taker and he directed it away from Simpson, who was not only on the ground but also had his back to play by this point. Somehow, Simpson managed to get up, spin around and block the follow up to spark wild scenes of celebration. It was extraordinary goalkeeping.
After six weeks in which Dave John has seen so many of Hassocks’ big name players leave for pastures new, the latest of which being Alex Gathern who followed Phil Gault to Horsham YMCA earlier in the week, having Simpson back is as good as making a new signing for the Robins.
Gathern’s vacant spot at right back was taken by 19-year-old Chris Brown who was handed a first team debut after being an integral part of the reserve side who finished runners up in the Reserve Premier last season.
Brown gave a good account himself in what was a solid defensive display. At centre back, Pitcher and captain Ashley Marsh both equipped themselves well while Tom Davess reminded everyone of the quality he possesses at left back on his first start of the season.
There was also a first start for youth team midfielder Cam Williams who displayed some nice touches out wide. While replacing the likes of Gault, Gathern, Anthony Hibbert and Nathan Cooper won’t be easy, John at least knows there is some decent talent waiting in the wings.
What he really needs to find though is a goalscorer. Hassocks fashioned some good opportunities but weren’t able to convert any of them, with John even resorting to throwing normal defender Ian Simpson on up front as a target man in the closing stages in place of the hard working Jake Booth.
Former St Francis Rangers midfielder Ryan Collins also offered an intriguing attacking option when he was handed his debut from the bench.
Collins spent last season playing Sunday League and although he only had limited time to make an impact here, he put in a promising cameo given it will probably take him some weeks to get reacquainted with senior football.
He’ll be able to do that pretty quickly given that the games come thick and fast for the Robins, with four fixtures crammed into the next two weeks.
After beating Crawley Down Gatwick last Saturday, Hassocks will be hoping to take this upturn of form into what could be a defining fortnight.
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Chris Brown, Ashley Marsh, Nick Pitcher, Tom Davess; Dan Stokes, Bradley Bant, Mark Price, Cam Williams; Phil Johnson, Jake Booth.
Subs: Ryan Collins (Price), Ian Simpson (Booth), Phil Wickwar (unused).
