LINDSEY STRIKES AGAIN FOR PRECIOUS POINT
Jake Lindsey is turning out to be quite the find for Hassocks. The teenage striker netted his third goal in five starts since his elevation from the Robins youth team to ensure that his side left Crawley Down Gatwick with a share of the spoils.
This 1-1 draw made it five points out of a possible 12, a haul that has kept Hassocks in touch with the sides above them just outside the relegation zone.
Lindsey has played a part in delivering all of those points; equalising just before half time here at the Haven, netting the opener in the 2-0 win over Littlehampton Town three days previously and scoring an 88th minute leveller against East Preston in the fixture that kick started this mini revival.
“Another precious point,” was how Phil Wickwar described it afterwards. “We’ve played better football at times but we displayed fantastic character to come away from a difficult place with something to show for our efforts.”
The Haven is one of the tougher venues to go in the Southern Combination League’s Premier Division. Down have lost only once at home so far this season and have taken points off of title challengers Chichester City, Haywards Heath Town and Peacehaven & Telscombe. On that basis, this looked an onerous task for the Robins.
They didn’t get off to the best of starts either, going behind as early as the sixth minute in all too familiar fashion. A Down corner wasn’t dealt with convincingly and Hassocks’ attempt at a scuffed clearance only presented Johden De Meyer with the chance to fire home for 1-0.
The Robins early elimination from most of the cup competitions this season meant that this was the first time they’d been asked to play Saturday-Tuesday since October and you could tell they aren’t used to the demands of two games in a week.
It was a leggy opening 30 minutes for a side who appeared to be feeling for the effects of the effort that went into their weekend win at Littlehampton.
There were after all only two changes to their starting line up and both of those came in defence. Under 18s left back Ben O’Leary was handed his second senior start along with a recall for Josh Tuck as Bradley Bant and Will Broomfield both moved forwards into midfield to replace the unavailable duo of Dan Stokes and Matt Berridge.
The heavy pitch, which only passed an inspection on the afternoon of the game, didn’t help either and the Robins were indebted to Haig Kingston for ensuring they didn’t slip further behind midway through the first half when he made a superb one handed tip around the post from Sam Cane.
Lindsey’s goal arrived three minutes before half time, a deft header from a brilliant in-swinging free kick from Michael Death.
While Hassocks have conceded too many goals from set pieces to count over the last few seasons, it was pleasing to see them score from one at the other end and the quality of Death’s delivery cannot be overstated.
In fact, Death was having one of his all-round good evenings. He led the line superbly and linked up well with Lindsey who was a real outlet throughout for the Robins, the duo drawing special praise afterwards from Wickwar, along with Jordan Badger and Tuck who the Hassocks joint boss described as “outstanding.”
Tuck and Badger will certainly have busier games over the Robins remaining 10 fixtures as the second half of this one was pretty nondescript.
Both teams did plenty of huffing and puffing but there was very little in the way of quality football on show, leaving the draw a fair result come the final whistle.
Hassocks: Haig Kingston; Joe Maskell, Josh Tuck, Jordan Badger, Ben O’Leary; Bradley Bant, Harry Mills, Will Broomfield, Jake Lindsey; Jack Wilkins, Michael Death.
Subs: Jake Atherton (Wilkins), Kieran Dimelow, Connor Bradley, Dan Turner, Phil Wickwar (unused).
Starman: Jake Lindsey.
