FANTASTIC FIVE FOR RELENTLESS ROBINS
Way back in 2001, Hassocks won five league games in a row – a feat that they have not achieved again until this well deserved 3-1 victory over AFC Uckfield Town at The Beacon.
Tony Blair was nine months into his second term as Prime Minister and Enrique Iglesias was top of the charts with Hero when they put together six victories in succession between December 2001 and February 2002, a run that was ended by an 8-1 hammering at the hands of Brighton’s reserve side in the last 16 of the Sussex Senior Cup.
The Robins secured their best sequence of results since those heady days with a dominant second half performance which was capped with goals from Michael Death, Phil Gault and Jonno Melia.
The only blot on the copybook came when Hassocks conceded in the 90th minute, denying Alex Harris and the Hassocks back four what would have been a fourth successive clean sheet.
Uckfield haven’t played a competitive game since December 19th but they showed no signs of ring rust as they could have taken the lead inside of 120 seconds when the dangerous Elliott Wood’s cross skimmed off the bar with Harris a spectator.
Hassocks slowly got into the game after that with Spencer Slaughter firing narrowly wide from distance and Gault stung the hands of Uckfield keeper Nick Collick after collecting a quick throw from Bradley Bant.
Collick then got extremely lucky, fumbling a Death shot which he let through both hands and legs before grabbing the ball just before it went over the line.
It was to all intents and purposes an even first half – which was in stark contrast to the second as Hassocks flew out of the traps to take the lead within three minutes of the restart.
Collick had produced a magnificent tip over at full stretch to deny James Westlake’s superb half volley. There was nothing he could do to stop Death’s excellent flicked header at the near post from the resulting corner however, a pinpoint delivery from Westlake.
Death was clearly delighted with the goal as the Robins’ top scorer celebrated by running over to his watching mother and giving her a kiss.
On 56 minutes the lead was doubled when Gault was hauled down in the box. He dusted himself down and calmly sent Collick the wrong way from the resulting penalty.
Hassocks were well on top now and Death, Gault and Slaughter all had good chances to put the game out of sight but their efforts were off target.
Collick meanwhile denied substitute Melia with his legs and Westlake with a smart reaction save as Hassocks failed to significantly increase the margin of their victory as they perhaps should have done.
They did eventually add a third in the 88th minute, Melia sealing the points when he showed great alertness to tap in the rebound after his initial effort had come back off the post.
Hassocks were caught napping in the 90th minute with Drew Greenall slotting home for AFC Uckfield but that proved to be a mere consolation as the Robins gained another excellent, well earned three points as their climb up the table continues.
Understandably manager Phil Wickwar was delighted after the game, saying, “It was a great second half performance. The first half we were a little off but we had a good chat at half time and the lads responded fantastically.
“We should have won the game by more but their keeper pulled off some great saves. We have got some difficult games ahead where we will need to improve further still to get some points from”.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Tom Barnes, Ashley Marsh, Rowan Wallis, Luke Akehurst; Bradley Bant, Spencer Slaughter, James Westlake, Jamie Hillwood; Michael Death, Phil Gault.
Subs: Jonno Melia (Hillwood 63), Nick Pitcher (Slaughter 73), Nathan Miles (Gault 80), Jack Wilkins (unused).
