NEW YEAR STARTS IN STYLE AS ROBINS END BARREN RUN
With just three league wins recorded since the start of September, the last couple of months of 2016 had proven to be pretty woeful for Hassocks.
But they kicked off 2017 with a bang, recording a vital 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers AFC Uckfield Town to move four points clear of the relegation zone – a timely boost ahead of a mini winter break of sorts, with no game currently scheduled until the visit of runaway leaders Shoreham in 19 days time.
“I’m well happy with the performance, especially as we have been in a bit of a rut lately so it is a very important three points,” Phil Wickwar said after.
He will know that more performances like this will be needed if the Robins are to maintain that gap to third bottom and ensure a 24th consecutive season of top flight football for 2017-18.
It was Uckfield who had the better of the opening exchanges, looking particularly dangerous whenever a ball was delivered into the box from Anthony Storey.
Defending set pieces has of course been Hassocks’ Achilles heel for the last three seasons but for once, the Robins rearguard managed to deal with this specific threat surprisingly well.
Ashley Marsh and Jordan Badger at the heart of the Robins defence were particularly impressive while James Broadbent justified his instant recall in goal at the expense of Alex Harris with a fine save from a Matt McLean header.
Broadbent also denied Storey with an improvised body stop before Hassocks took the lead with a quarter of an hour played.
A brisk and business like counter attack saw the ball leathered from defence towards the galloping shape of right back Bradley Tighe who saw his pull back being swept home by Phil Gault.
There were plenty of chances for both sides after that, none more so glorious than when the Hassocks defence got into a bit of a muddle and with the goal gaping, Phil Broom could only sweep his effort straight into the body of the covering Luke Akehurst.
That miss was punished as Hassocks doubled their advantage 10 minutes before the break when Bradley Bant’s effort from the edge of the box was turned in by a sliding Uckfield centre back for a classic own goal.
There further chances before half time arrived. James Westlake was threaded in by Gault only to see his effort turned away by Matt Dann in the Uckfield goal and then Gault himself was denied his second by a chest on the line.
A third goal was clearly coming although Hassocks had to wait until past the hour mark for it to arrive. The outstanding Tighe was again the architect as he burst forward with a delightful run before delivering on a plate for Michael Death who made no mistake.
With the game all but over, Hassocks were able to fully utilise their bench with the trio of Ellis Common, Spencer Slaughter and George Galbraith-Gibbons all being given first run outs of the season – which were pleasing for different reasons.
For Common, it was a first appearance since 2014 after an injury hit couple of years while 16-year-old Galbraith-Gibbons was rewarded for a sparkling debut campaign for the youth team.
He is currently their top scorer and showed some nice touches in his brief cameo, delivering a great ball in within seconds of coming on that there was unfortunately nobody in the box to meet.
The best reception of the day was reserved for Slaughter however. The midfielder has spent the last year travelling but remains a firm favourite of the Hassocks faithful.
Having not kicked a ball for 10 months, he will understandably be rusty. This was evidenced by the fact that his first contribution saw him embarking on a run towards the Uckfield box which ended with him taking around 15 metres to slowly tumble to the ground under no pressure in a style reminiscent of a baby giraffe learning how to walk.
While that may have provided plenty of laughs, the main smiles came from the result. Hopefully, it signals the start of an improved year for the Robins.
Hassocks: James Broadbent; Luke Akehurst, Ashley Marsh, Jordan Badger; Bradley Tighe, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Bradley Bant, Harry Mills; Michael Death, Phil Gault
Subs: Ellis Common (Tighe), Spencer Slaughter (L Westlake), George Galbraith-Gibbons (Gault), Dan Stokes, Tom Barnes (unused).
Starman: Bradley Tighe.
