INJURY RAVAGED ROBINS SHOCK SECOND PLACE CHI
What is it about Hassocks and unlikely results? In the last five weeks, the Robins have been hammered by Three Bridges and Whitehawk and just four days ago, were beaten at home by lowly Selsey.
Not many would have given Hassocks a hope against second placed Chichester City, especially missing their two most combative players in Stuart Faith and Spencer Slaughter and being without strikers Neil Kane and James Laing.
Yet as they so often do, the Robins laughed in the face of adversity to shock their high flying visitors. The final score was 2-1 and nobody could say it wasn’t deserved, especially given the dramas that Hassocks went through in the warm up.
At that point, Nathan Miles was the only fit striker available to Dave John. He though pulled up injured 30 minutes before kick off, leaving John without a recognised striker. Full back Dan Jacques was pressed into service as an emergency forward alongside Kieran O’Callaghan, better known for his exploits as an England international beach footballer.
O’Callaghan at least had previous as a striker in a Hassocks shirt, having played and scored when filling the role in a 1-1 draw at Hailsham Town in April 2007. This was O’Callaghan’s first start for the Robins since that 2006-07 season, but John expects to have him available more frequently between now and the end of the season where his versatility could prove vital to pushing Hassocks up the table.
There was also the added bonus of the reserves game being called off, meaning that John could name former St Francis Rangers striker Sam Jeremiah on the bench. Jeremiah has been turning out for Hassocks’ second string as looks to build match fitness after returning from backpacking.
If the pre-game indications were not encouraging for the hosts, things looked even bleaker when Chi scored with their first attack just three minutes in. It was a soft goal as Ben Vassallo burst through the middle and saw his shot half saved by Joel Harding before the ball crept over the line.
Chi looked capable of scoring every time they entered the Hassocks half after that. Vassallo could have added a second on 10 minutes when Harding hesitated. The Hassocks goalkeeper showed better judgement seven minutes later when he saved well with his feet after Chi launched a swift counter attack following a promising Hassocks move breaking down.
Joe Briggs was the man denied after getting the better of Pete Lear. John revealed afterwards that Lear was another struggling with injury; not only did the towering defender do well to last the 90, but he also did an excellent job as part of the Hassocks defence.
John could claim an assist for the Robins’ equaliser which arrived on 29 minutes. He urged right back Arni Kublickas forward and a short corner routine with Anthony Hibbert – playing his 300th game for Hassocks – resulted in a good cross that was flicked on to find Phil Gault outside the far post. Gault dummied, cut inside and scored with a shot from a tight angle.
The Robins deserved that and Gault was certainly worthy of such a quality goal in what was quite simply a brilliant individual performance. Given the striker shortage, there were more than a few murmurs of discontent that Gault was starting in midfield rather than attack, but Chi had no answer to him as he ran the game from a deeper role.
Hibbert came close to giving Hassocks the lead five minutes before the break but his attempted chip didn’t have quite enough on it. Two minutes after the restart and Jacques missed an even better opportunity, placing a free header over the bar after great work down the right from Hibbert.
Hassocks clearly meant business in the second half and every player played their part in a showing packed with guts, determination and skill. Callum Cutler squandered a glorious chance for Chi on 53 but that was the last chance of note the visitors conjured up as the Robins made most of the running in the final half hour.
They had two excellent chances from the same break on 63 minutes. Jacques was denied by the legs of Chi keeper Greg Forster and then Daley Clark scuffed the follow-up effort just wide. A minute later and home players and fans alike were incensed when referee Kevin Roberts failed to play advantage when Jacques put Kublickas completely in the clear.
It has to be stated that the referee made some absolute howlers and while it is easy to be critical of a difficult job, one wonders if fast tracking young officials is to the overall benefit of the game, however necessary it may be.
Hassocks’ winner arrived with 74 minutes played and there was joy all round not only at securing three richly deserved points but also in the identity of the scorer. Daley Clark has worked his socks off since arriving in the summer from Lingfield, initially as a striker.
His lack of goals has seen John convert him into a midfielder to good effect. Clark finally opened his account at the 25th time of asking when Harding’s long kick upfield cleared defender Tom Broadbent, leaving Clark one-on-one and although his decision to cut inside seemed questionable, he produced the right finish.
Mr Roberts took centre stage after that, booking Broadbent for a foul and then causing consternation by issuing a second yellow to Chi’s Lee Mullins. Mullins had been booked earlier when hauling down Kublickas and when substitute James Archer led with his elbow into the head of Clark, a melee was sparked and Mullins saw red.
Chi’s anger seemed to stem from their believe that Mr Roberts had mistakenly believed that Mullins was the player dishing out the elbows. It seems more likely than Mullins picked up his second booking for his involvement in the fracas.
Gault also saw yellow and after consulting with his assistant, Mr Roberts finally dished out a booking to Archer too. Not even those untimely scenes could distract from a thoroughly good win for Hassocks which must have come as a pleasant surprise to their loyal fans after recent struggles/.
Hassocks: Joel Harding; Arni Kublickas, Sol Bowra, Ashley Marsh, Pete Lear, Richard Thompson; Anthony Hibbert, Phil Gault, Daley Clark; Kieran O’Callaghan, Dan Jacques.
Subs: Sam Jeremiah (Jacques 85), Michael Bates, Martin Woods, Ian Dawson, Jack Simpson (unused).
Starman: The whole team deserve credit but it could go to none other than Phil Gault, who was inspirational.
