REIGNING CHAMPIONS PROVE TOO GOOD FOR HASSOCKS
Seven days after Hassocks produced an excellent 2-0 win to beat Hailsham Town in an entertaining game on a slick surface at the Beacon, the Robins’ trip to reigning Sussex County League champions Eastbourne United Association provided a polar opposite experience.
The hosts ran out deserved 2-0 winners in a dreary encounter that is unlikely to stick in the memories for too long. Neither teams’ cause was helped by a lumpy, bumpy surface at the Oval which made good football nigh-on impossible.
Home boss Brian Dennis made seven changes from the side humbled 6-0 at Arundel the previous week, a sign of the depth that is available to United. In contrast, it feels like Hassocks have barely been able to muster seven fully fit senior players together over the course of February.
There are signs that the Robins’ injury woes might be easing slightly and Dave John was no doubt pleased to welcome back the combative and talismanic Stuart Faith. He took over from the absent Pete Lear in the Hassocks defence, which was breached after only two minutes.
Tyler Goatcher delivered a low cross from the right and although a bobble meant that the ball was missed by Shane Saunders, it eventually bounced kindly for former Burgess Hill Town striker Steve Dallaway to fire firmly past Jack Simpson, conceding for the first time since taking over the gloves from the injured Joel Harding two weeks ago.
That effort apart, it was a dreary first half which could easily have sent the 55 supporters in attendance to sleep. The second 45 at least had a little more entertainment to it, especially for United fans who saw their side dominate after the break; nobody with Hassocks connections could have complained afterwards if the hosts had won by three or four.
Within minutes of the restart, Simpson had to push a Ben Billings corner onto the bar at full stretch. That sparked an almighty melee in the Hassocks goalmouth before somebody in red eventually managed to put a foot through the ball and clear it to safety.
Simon Stevens, a tower of strength all afternoon in the United defence, nearly proved his worth up the other end when sending an effort fractionally off target after a neat touch from Saunders. The hosts were then denied a cast-iron penalty when Simpson clattered into Billings as the home player raced onto a through ball.
The referee ruled that Billings didn’t have the ball fully under control, a view that not many watching around the Oval agreed with. Hassocks were unable to make the most of the reprieve as United duly added a second with 63 minutes on the clock.
Rafal Ciupinski skipped away down the right to deliver an immaculate cross which Stevens met with a powerful header having come charging forward from defence. Dallaway did his best to claim that he had applied the final touch on the line but the goal was later confirmed as belonging to Stevens.
Home substitute Brad Manton was denied by Simpson from a one-on-one before John turned to his bench, throwing Nathan Miles on for the tiring Laing and introducing Sol Bowra for the injured Anthony Hibbert.
Bowra joined the action as part of the back three with Kieran O’Callaghan moving into attack, addingg his height to the Robins’ front line as Hassocks became more direct in the closing stages.
It nearly worked. Sam Jeremiah had the ball in the back of the net for what he thought was his first goal in Hassocks colours, only to see it ruled out for offside. Had that have counted, it might have set up a nervy finale but instead it was United who continued to dominate.
Another superb effort from the advancing Stevens rattled the Robins’ bar and Dallaway was inches over with another effort as the champions were unable to add their score. Hassocks could consider themselves lucky in that regard.
John said afterwards, “I thought after that early goal, we were well in it in the first half and had a decent couple of chances.” They were certainly the better team after the break. They are a good side who play on a poor pitch and so they are forced to just lump it forward.”
Hassocks: Jack Simpson; Dan Jacques, Kieran O’Callaghan, Ashley Marsh, Stuart Faith, Richard Thompson; Daley Clark, Phil Gault, Anthony Hibbert; James Laing, Sam Jeremiah.
Subs: Nathan Miles (Laing 70), Sol Bowra (Hibbert 72), Ian Dawson (unused)
Starman: Skipper Ashley Marsh was outstanding in the visiting defence.
