TOOTHLESS HASSOCKS FALL TO HAVEN AT THE FIRST HURDLE
Goals win games and that is why Hassocks exited the FA Vase at the hands of Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Both sides had chances, the difference being that the Tye clinically despatched three of theirs; Hassocks in contrast drew a blank as Harry Mills in the Peacehaven goal left with a clean sheet on his return to the Beacon.
Yes, you have read that right. And yes, it was the same Mills who made 122 appearances for the Robins as a defender over the past four seasons before moving to Peacehaven in the summer.
Turns out he is also a relatively handy goalkeeper. What makes this revelation all the more incredible is that goalkeeper is a position which Hassocks have struggled with over the past four years, often having to turn to 45-year-old Phil Wickwar to fill the void. And all that time they could have handed Mills the gloves.
Mills’ task minding the net for his new club was undoubtedly made easier by the absence through injury of Charlie Pitcher and Phil Gault. Nobody could fault the work rate of Chris Neatherway and Joe Bull, but you could not help but wonder how different this might have turned out had Dave John had his first choice front line on the pitch rather than on the sidelines enjoying the Beacon’s popular new range of locally brewed craft beer.
Hassocks’ best route to goal – especially in the second half – appeared to be down the flanks. Jack Troak gave another positive display on the left whilst 17-year-old Alfie Loversidge was an intriguing choice to take over from James Littlejohn on the right.
Loversidge showed plenty of promise and was only a lick of paint away from marking his full debut with a goal when placing a second half header which defied his miniature stature against the post from a looping Troak cross.
He was not the only Under 18s player in John’s youthful starting line up. Jack Gardner came in at centre back, although his time at the heart of defence was short lived.
In an early blow to Hassocks, Louis Pittock was forced off injured after just two minutes. Gardner switched to right back with Will Broomfield coming off the bench for his first competitive action of the campaign after an injury hit pre-season.
The Robins did well not to let that disruption impact them, helped in part by a slow start to proceedings. There were just two chances of note in the first half hour, one falling to each side and neither on target.
Bull collected a neat Gardner pass and turned Matthew Gunn but his effort dragged wide of Mills’ post on 12 minutes. Three minutes later and Andy Whittingham had to make a vital block from Max Holloborne who went all Gazza at Euro 96, beautifully flicking the ball over the head of Dan Turner before hitting a volley which Whittingham threw his body in the way off.
Holloborne drew the first save of the game on 32, stinging the palms of Dave Carruthers with a distance drive after picking the pocket of George Brown in midfield.
Turner was not far away with a glancing header on a Brown cross from a well worked short corner routine but from the resulting goal kick, Hassocks fell alarmingly asleep and a simple move up the pitch found Tyler Scrafton who turned Turner and beat Carruthers via a deflection. That was with five minutes of the first half remaining.
Hassocks to their credit responded well, Loversidge’s aforementioned header coming with the second half just three minutes old and two minutes later Neatherway couldn’t quite apply the finishing touch to a low Troak cross. Troak was the next man to squander a chance, backheeling wide from a goalmouth scramble.
Another Under 18s player entered the fray with 64 minutes played, striker Lewis Beebee making his senior debut in place of Neatherway. Beebee had little chance to make much headway before Peacehaven added a second and there were plenty of questions about Hassocks’ marking.
Visiting right back Jake Legrange came forward to whip in a cross which Scrafton was able to bring down, turn on and pick out the corner of Carruthers’ goal with no sign of a red shirt anywhere near him.
Peacehaven’s third in contrast was a goal which you simply had to applaud, Jake Brocklebank bending a free kick into the stanchion from 30 yards for a strike of the very highest quality with four minutes remaining.
Bull’s cross-shot had been turned behind by Mills minutes earlier and the former-Hassocks defender then showed his worth as a goalkeeper when denying Troak’s one-on-one effort with an excellent double save.
The Robins had one final chance in stoppage time but in a moment which summed their afternoon up, Loversidge’s low cross went through the legs of Troak and under the foot of Beebee.
Hassocks: Dave Carruthers; Louis Pittock, Jack Gardner, Dan Turner, Andy Whittingham; Alfie Loversidge, Bradley Bant, George Brown, Jack Troak; Joe Bull, Chris Neatherway.
Subs: Will Broomfield (Pittock 2), Lewis Beebee (Neatherway 64), Jake Chadwick (Broomfield 77), George Galbraith-Gibbons, Jayden Dunkley (unused).
