BACON SIZZLES TO END ROBINS LOSING STREAK
After seven consecutive defeats, Hassocks would’ve taken any sort of result from their trip to Worthing United in order to avoid what would have been an unwanted piece of club history.
Another loss at the Robert Albon Memorial Ground would have taken them into uncharted territory as the first side in the club’s 114 year existence to have lost eight games in a row in senior football.
What they ended up getting in sunny Worthing wasn’t just any old result either, but their biggest win of 2016 as they blew away the Mavericks to return home with a 5-0 win and all three points.
Phil Wickwar felt this result has been coming for a while. “The only game in that run in which we were outclassed was Newhaven (a 5-0 away defeat) and we didn’t help ourselves by being absolutely terrible that day.”
“It’s great to stop the rot as it has been a frustrating time for everyone but we’ve never panicked about the results, we’ve stuck at it and got the rewards today.”
It was Ben Bacon who led the Robins charge, the striker netting his first senior hat-trick as his pace and directness put fear into the hearts of the United defence all afternoon.
There was little sign of what was to come in the opening 30 minutes. A morning deluge had left the pitch tucked into the foot of the South Downs as a slick surface and Hassocks were forced into defending a deceptively strong wind in the first half.
They did this impressively to leave James Broadbent as a virtual spectator for much of the game bar a few crosses into the box which he dealt with well given the conditions.
Free flowing football up the left hand side of the pitch led to Bacon’s opener eight minutes before the break. Ashley Marsh, James Westlake and Michael Death all played a part in setting Bacon away and his run into the United back four ended with a delightful finish through the legs of home goalkeeper Fraser Trigwell.
With the hard work seemingly done in dealing with the challenging conditions, Hassocks would have fancied their chances of holding onto victory turning around 1-0 ahead at the interval.
In fact, what they did was healthily improve their goal difference by adding four unanswered goals to the scoreline as Bacon ran riot to complete his treble inside an hour.
His second arrived with nine minutes of the second half played, Tom Barnes’ long free kick being caught by the wind and knocked down in the area for Bacon to smash home.
Another fine footballing move five minutes later saw Bacon round off his hat-trick, at which point his afternoon’s work was done with Liam Benson taking to the field in his place.
The fourth goal was pretty surreal all round as Hassocks produced a whole comedy of errors in the build up to it. Death firstly defied all the known laws of football to somehow contrive to miss from a yard out.
Nathan Miles picked up the loose ball and then squandered an equally basic opportunity by hitting the post, after which the rebound hit the fortuitous Westlake and bounce in.
The scoring was rounded off with 10 minutes left to play, Harry Mills steaming forward from right back to finish a Death cross for his first Hassocks goal which he celebrated in style with some acrobatics that it is fair to say aren’t going to see him earn a place as an Olympic gymnast any time soon.
Hassocks were on easy street by that point and they handed a late debut to midfielder Connor Bradley who has been in sparkling form for the Under 21 side so far this season.
Hassocks: James Broadbent; Harry Mills, Tom Barnes, Jordan Badger, Ashley Marsh; Josh Hawkes; James Westlake, Bradley Bant; Ben Bacon; Nathan Miles, Michael Death.
Subs: Liam Benson (Bacon), Lewis Westlake (Bant), Connor Bradley (Death), Mark Price, Phil Wickwar (unused).
Starman: James Westlake.
