LUCK DOESN’T HOLD AS ROBINS DOWNED BY DOCKERS
Four weeks ago, Hassocks Ladies had defied the odds to come away from Newhaven with a 1-1 draw in an extraordinary afternoon at Fort Road.
The Robins had seen two players get injured in the pre-game warmup, lost goalkeeper Sarah Chappell at half time and ended the game with only 10 on the pitch after Emma Flin received a nasty head injury in the closing stages.
Despite all that, Martin Lee’s side still managed to earn a point. It was a different story on this occasion at the Beacon however as the hosts never really got into their stride and Newhaven left with a deserved 2-0 victory.
The Dockers were the better side from the first whistle and could have taken the lead inside of five minutes but for an excellent interception from Chloe John.
Rose Jump used her pace to good effect to run at the visiting defence but she was crowded out before anything could come of it and Kirsten Mair had a shot saved.
Those two moments were about as good as it got for Hassocks in an attacking sense in the first half and it was no surprise when Newhaven turned their early dominance into a lead with 18 minutes played.
It was a beautifully worked goal as a slick passing move eventually teed up Katie Franks who produced a volley that gave Sarah Chappell in the Hassocks goal no chance.
The Robins’ number one was in inspired form to prevent Newhaven doubling their lead, pushing away a direct free kick and making two great saves in quick succession.
Hassocks managed to relieve a bit of the pressure on Sarah Chappell’s goal after that, Jodie Johanson earning a corner following a perfect through ball from John and some neat passing between Katherine Chappell, Gemma Craig and Johanson ended with Mair seeing a shot blocked.
Newhaven conjured up two more opportunities to double their lead just prior to the break but they skewed one effort wide and then saw Sarah Chappell repel a two-on-one.
The Robins knew they had been completely overrun in that opening 45 minutes and without the efforts of Chappell in goal and the back four of John, Ria Banitas, Emily Brocklehurst and skipper Sam Newman then the Dockers could have been out of sight.
Lee made one change at the break, introducing Tallie Bright onto the right side of midfield in the hope of breaking Newhaven’s dominance.
After the Dockers had missed the first chance of the second half, Hassocks did come into the game a little more. Jump was pipped to the ball by the Newhaven goalkeeper and Bethany Purse, ploughing a lonely furrow up front, tested the goalkeeper with a decent effort just past the hour mark.
Mair had a shot deflected behind for a corner before Newhaven put the game to bed, adding their second with 74 minutes played after another good passing move was this time finished off by Lauren Smith.
Four minutes later and Lee introduced Holly Webb for her debut at left back, which coincided with arguably Hassocks’ best spell of the game.
Purse had an effort blocked with the rebound being fired just wide and Jump’s run and cross was met by a shot from Mair which the goalkeeper did well to keep out.
Purse then produced a delightful piece of skill to turn and play the ball through but again, the Newhaven keeper anticipated the danger well and was able to snuff it out.
Bright had the final chance of the game, shooting across goal when well placed but really there could be no complaints from the hosts about the final scoreline.
Indeed, without the interventions of Sarah Chappell, it could have been much worse. Things don’t get any easier for Hassocks either with a trip to unbeaten league leaders Lewes Foundation up next.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Ria Banitas, Chloe John, Emily Brocklehurst, Sam Newman, Jodie Johanson, Katherine Chappell, Gemma Craig, Kirsten Mair, Rose Jump, Bethany Purse.
Subs: Tallie Bright, Holly Webb (used), Ellie Moquet (unused).
