ROBINS PICK UP FIRST POINT IN EXTRAORDINARY CLASH
Hassocks Ladies picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw away at Newhaven, but the scoreline only tells half the story in what was an extraordinary clash at Fort Road.
The drama began before the match had even kicked off. Two Hassocks players got injured in the warm up, Jodie Johanson and goalkeeper Sarah Chappell.
Johanson was unable to start as a result with her place being taken by Rose Jump. Chappell meanwhile decided to play through the pain barrier and just to add to manager Martin Lee’s problems, striker Kelly Rushworth was nursing an injury and nowhere near 100% fit.
Despite that, Rushworth was a lively presence throughout and she has an opportunity inside of the first four minutes which the Dockers goalkeeper did well to keep out.
Rushworth then headed down to Kirsten Mair but her effort whistled over the bar and a good through ball from Chloe John played in Jess Craig but her effort was turned behind for a corner.
There were further chances for Mair and Claire Stevens as the Robins were completely dominant throughout the first 20 minutes.
That was soon to change though as Newhaven grew into the game. They had two attacks in quick succession thwarted by John and Stevens with Chappell then parrying a cross to a forward who somehow contrived to put the ball wide with the goal gaping.
That seemed to spur Newhaven on and it took another stop from Chappell and another block from Newman to prevent the hosts taking the lead.
It looked as though Hassocks might have done enough to see out the half but as the clock ticked into injury time, the Robins were hit with a late blow as Newhaven took the lead.
Rushworth had just seen an effort brilliantly kept out and before you knew it, the Dockers had launched a devastating counter attack which ended in an excellent cross from the right by the overlapping full back being fired past Chappell.
Going into the break behind was harsh on Hassocks. Things didn’t get much better during the interval either as Chappell finally succumbed to her injury with Rushworth taking over in goal and Ria Banitas being introduced into midfield.
Rushworth was quickly into the action, tipping an attempted lob over the bar and then having to claw away the resulting corner which looked like it might otherwise have crept straight in.
Banitas too made a good early impression, producing an excellent run and pass to find Jump whose shot was saved. Shortly after and Mair curled a free kick from 20 yards just over the bar after Jess Craig and had been brought down.
The Robins were now back on top and two minutes later they had an equaliser, albeit in very bizarre circumstances. Newhaven’s defence and goalkeeper decided to start playing a series of ever more dangerous short passes between themselves in the box with Jump taking advantage to steal the ball and slot home.
The Dockers responded well and Stevens had to be alert to cut out a through ball. Rushworth also saved bravely at the feet of a striker.
There was further injury related drama to come in the final five minutes. Gemma Craig needed lengthy treatment before being able to carry on and then a minute later, Hassocks lost Emma Flin to a nasty head injury after an accidental collision with a Newhaven player.
That left Hassocks to play out the game with only 10 players and despite their numerical disadvantage, they could have won the game when Jump was bundled over the in the box in the final seconds but the resulting spot kick was fired over the bar.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Chloe John, Sam Newman, Claire Stevens, Emma Flin, Liz King, Rose Jump, Kirsten Mair, Jess Craig, Gemma Craig, Kelly Rushworth.
Subs: Ria Banitas (used), Jodie Johanson (unused).
