FAST STARTING ROBINS GAIN REVENGE ON THE BLUES
Revenge was served up at the Beacon on as Hassocks Under 23s defeated the only side to have beaten them in the league so far this season.
Selsey’s 1-0 win over the Robins at the Bunn Leisure Stadium back at the start of October remains the only mark in the loss column so far for Nigel Pearce’s Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division table toppers.
They weren’t at the races on that frustrating evening down in the west of the county but any hopes that the Blues had of repeating their shock win were over before a quarter of the tie had even been played.
It took Hassocks less than 20 minutes to blitz their way into a four-goal lead, after which they took their foot off the pedal with the game already sewn up and a devilishly tricky test to come next week away at reigning champions Pagham.
The Robins made two changes from their last outing, a 3-1 win away at Broadbridge Heath four weeks previously.
Dan Stokes had played in that game against the Bears for some much-needed match fitness but his return to the first team picture meant Matt Berridge coming into midfield while George Galbraith-Gibbons replaced Louie Derham with James Oliver switching to a more familiar defensive role.
Given the month-long lay off enforced on Hassocks by two weeks without a scheduled fixture and then last Thursday’s League Cup Quarter Final with Midhurst & Easbourne falling to a frozen pitch, the Robins could have been forgiven for being a little ring rusty.
But any fears that Hassocks would suffer for a lack of match practice were extinguished inside of seven minutes when Berridge notched his third goal from just five Under 23 appearances so far.
They didn’t have long to wait for the lead to be doubled, Berridge’s midfield partner Connor Bradley making it 2-0 just two minutes after the opener.
Four minutes later and top scorer James Littlejohn got in on the act and Littlejohn then netted his second and Hassocks’ fourth four minutes after that.
At that point, a cricket score looked like it might have been on the cards but credit to Selsey who managed to regroup and battled bravely for the remaining 80 minutes, ensuring that the Robins weren’t able to add to their total.
They even managed to get on the score sheet themselves, Remi Coates pulling one back early in the second half to ruin Josh Green and his defences hopes of a sixth clean sheet of the season.
Despite the setback of conceding, Hassocks remained in control for the majority of the second half with Pearce making full use of his bench by giving game time to Derham, Jake Lane, Steve Bright and Martin Ratcliffe.
The result and manner of the victory would have been particularly pleasing given that it was achieved without the services of Max Willcox, the Robins second top goal scorer who would surely have thrived alongside Littlejohn in that devastating opening spell.
Pearce will hope to have Willcox back for the Robins eagerly anticipated trip to Nyetimber Lane next Thursday as they look to take another step towards taking Pagham’s crown.
This result moved Hassocks three points clear of Horsham YMCA with both sides having played 12 times and facing eight remaining fixtures in what is shaping up to be a tense run in.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Ellis Common, Kieran Wells, Joe Russell, James Oliver, Matt Berridge, Connor Bradley, Harvey Enticknap, Will Glenn, George Galbraith-Gibbons, James Littlejohn.
Subs: Martin Ratcliffe, Louie Derham, Jake Lane, Steve Bright (used).
