CHAPPELL KEEPS HASSOCKS IN IT AGAINST CHAMPIONS ELECT
After five weeks without a game, Hassocks Ladies returned to action with the toughest assignment currently available in the South East Counties Women’s League Premier Division.
Woodside Road was the destination to take on a Worthing side who are cakewalking their way to the title. The Rebels came into the game having won eight games out of eight so far this season, racking up a positive goal difference of 36 along the way.
To come away with only a 2-0 defeat represented a decent afternoon’s work for the Robins with the performance that they put in against the champions-elect hopefully setting a benchmark for the remainder of the season.
Worthing are used to having things go all their way so far, so they were no doubt a little surprised that it was the visitors who fashioned the first opportunity of the match when Tallie Bright’s through ball was only just gathered by an alert Rebels goalkeeper before Bethany Purse could get there.
A flurry of chances followed for Worthing with Sarah Chappell doing well to tip a cross onto the bar and then producing a sprawling save.
Liz King had to be alert to block another attempted shot with two further efforts flying wide with Chappell untroubled.
Hassocks managed to relieve some of the Worthing pressure just past the 15 minute mark with a rare attack, lone striker Purse again leading the charge but she was tackled just before she could get a shot away. The Rebels were having no such troubles at the other end and Chappell had to make another fine save on the stretch.
Hassocks’ midfield five of Katherine Chappell, Jess Craig, Gemma Craig, King and Kirsten Mair were slowly being forced ever deeper, but this in a way helped the Robins as the number of bodies now stationed between Worthing and Chappell’s goal meant that the hosts were increasingly forced into taking harmless pot shots from distance.
Worthing did manage to find a way through the mass ranks of Robins 10 minutes before the break, but amazingly a clear open goal was missed from no more than a couple of yards out.
Emma Flin then had to make a vital interception. Just when it looked like Hassocks might make it to the break on level terms, Worthing opened the scoring with only six minutes of the first half remaining.
The Robins were embarking on a rare foray forward when they got caught in possession, Worthing broke with lightning speed and the resultant three-on-two left Chappell and her remaining defenders with no chance as Beth Kincaid converted. It could have got even worse, Rose Jump blocking another effort just before the sides headed in for the interval.
Martin Lee made one change at the break with Ria Banitas replacing skipper Sam Newman who’d battled bravely against Worthing’s rapid right-sided forward.
Just like in the first half, Hassocks were the better side from kick off and Purse earnt a corner which unfortunately came to nothing.
Worthing responded by forcing Chappell into yet another good save but the respite was short lived and the hosts duly doubled their advantage with 51 on the clock.
Disappointingly from a Hassocks point of view, it came from a set piece. A deep corner was headed back across goal where Tammy Waine was waiting to volley home.
Worthing were now well on top and an injury to Flin saw her hobble off with Emily Brocklehurst entering proceedings.
Lee took the opportunity to switch to a back four with Gemma Craig also dropping back as Hassocks looked to try and hold onto a respectable result. Jodie Johanson also entered the fray as Chappell made a good block to thwart another effort on goal.
The Robins’ heroic defensive efforts began to take their toll late on, forcing Lee into continuing to rotate his rolling substitutes with Holly Webb being introduced.
Some smart covering from Brocklehurst thwarted another through ball with the final action of the game coming from a Worthing free kick which Chappell again proved equal to on her way to claiming one of the easiest star player decisions of this season.
Hassocks: Sarah Chappell, Rose Jump, Emma Flin, Sam Newman, Tallie Bright, Jess Craig, Liz King, Gemma Craig, Katherine Chappell, Bethany Purse.
Subs: Ris Banitas, Emily Brocklehust, Jodie Johanson, Holly Webb (used).
