BARE BONES HASSOCKS LOSE AT LANGNEY
It’s two steps forward, one step back for Hassocks at the minute. After winning their previous two games and scoring 12 goals in the process, the Robins returned to Earth with a bang at Priory Lane.
Langney Wanderers were the opponents, a familiar foe who they’ve played once already against this season in the FA Cup – and with whom they’ll get further acquainted at the Beacon next Saturday in the Peter Bentley League Cup.
Meeting one saw Hassocks run out 2-0 winners in August; meeting two was the polar opposite as Wanderers took all three points via a 4-0 win; what meeting three will have in store is anybody’s guess given the Robins’ current unpredictability.
What would help Mark Dalgleish’s cause is the return to fitness and availability of some his squad as they were down to the bare bones for this trip to the Sunshine Coast.
Striker Ben Bacon said afterwards, “I’ve never seen a side with so many injuries and absentees. I don’t want to hear Ole Gunnar Solksjaer complaining on Match of the Day again.”
A quick look at the Hassocks bench told its own story about how much the Robins are struggling in the players department.
Dalgleish named his assistant manager Brad Sweetman and physio Phil Wickwar among the substitutes. There was even a place for Phil Johnson who is currently side lined with a broken leg, although by the end you couldn’t have blamed the travelling Hassocks support if they’d begun to wonder whether Johnson might have improved their fortunes playing on just one leg.
After all, they were shorn of some crucial attacking players. Jack Troak and Joe Bull have both been in good goal scoring form and they were absent along with Jamie Hillwood who has looked a real threat.
James Littlejohn meanwhile was forced into a deeper and wider role after four goals in his last two games as well as winning the Robins’ September Player of the Month award.
Those who had played in that gruelling 6-4 extra time Sussex Senior Cup win at Arundel four days previously were understandably looking a little leggy, and then there were a couple of faces who haven’t tasted senior action for a few years.
Louis Pople was one of those, leading the line in Hassocks colours for the first time since 2012 while teenage striker George Galbraith-Gibbons was given 90 minutes for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.
With so much unfamiliarity in their line up and particularly in attack, Hassocks knew that they’d need to keep it tight at the back if they were to have any chance of leaving Eastbourne with something to show for their efforts.
Those hopes were dealt something of a blow then when they managed to score an own goal inside of 17 minutes to hand the hosts the advantage.
The Robins’ back four deserves a little credit for the way they responded to that, especially playing with two teenagers in Thomas Jupp and Luke Marshall.
It was a defence missing Andy Whittingham, Dan Jacques, Arni Kublickas and Dan Turner. Dan Stokes – who can do a job as an emergency right back – was also absent, meaning that the Robins were without an entire defence who could have reasonably expected to start. Problems at both end, as you’re probably starting to realise.
Hassocks managed to make it through to half time without any further mishaps, giving a little bit of belief that if they could create something going forward then maybe it would yet turn out to be their day.
The second half was a different story however as Langney went onto score three further times, inflicting on Hassocks a heaviest Premier Division defeat of the season so far in the process.
The hosts added their second within three minutes of the restart through Gary Ingram and the third followed on 74 when Dan Blackmore pounced.
Shaun Lee rounded off the scoring for Langney in 88th minute, a deserved goal for the defender who was the best player on the park.
There was at least some good news for Hassocks with Alex Spinks’ return to action as a substitute but the Robins will need many more of their walking wounded back before next Saturday when they take on the ominous task of facing Langney again.
Hassocks: Josh Green; Harvey Blake, Luke Marshall, Harry Mills, Thomas Jupp; Will Broomfield, Harvey Enticknap; James Littlejohn, Ben Bacon, George Galbraith-Gibbons; Louis Pople.
Subs: Alex Spinks, Jack Gardner (used), Phil Johnson, Brad Sweetman, Phil Wickwar (unused).
