14 minute capitulation enables the Dockers to sink Hassocks
When Sven-Goran Eriksson was England manager, he used to have a favourite saying that seemed to get trotted out in every other post-match interview.
“First half good, second half not so good.” Nothing could sum up Hassocks’ performance in their 5-0 defeat to Newhaven better than the Swede’s most frequent phrase.
At half time, the Robins turned around trailing only 1-0 to their visitors. What followed in the second half was a complete capitulation as the Dockers ran riot, scoring four times in 14 minutes on their way to a 5-0 victory.
Newhaven appeared to take their foot off the pedal once the fifth of the afternoon had rained in with a little over an hour played.
Had they kept going in the relentless manner in which they blitzed Hassocks, then they could have had even more. They probably should have done.
It was another harsh lesson for these young Robins, the majority of whom had barely started primary school when Eriksson stood down as England boss 15 years ago. Talk about a way to make you feel old.
Hassocks came into the game buoyed by taking four points out of six over the Bank Holiday Weekend, their efforts made all the more remarkable by the circumstances they were achieved in.
The Robins had to play against both Steyning Town and Lingfield for over an hour with 10 men following the dismissals of Luke Marshall against the Barrowmen and Connor Bradley against the Lingers.
Marshall and Bradley were both suspended for this one as a result. Marshall missing out proved to be particularly problematic for Hassocks as Dan Turner was also absent.
That left Brad Sweetman without two of his three first choice central defenders; not ideal against a Newhaven side who contain the talents of the man who has been the Premier Division’s most deadly scorer for the best part of seven seasons, Lee Robinson.
Into the Hassocks starting line up came Arthur Rawlingson, Jude Wallis and Jack Baden to replace Turner, Marshall and Bradley in three changes from Monday morning’s 1-1 draw with Lingfield.
There was little sign of what was to come in the opening 30 minutes. Hassocks held their ground well in what was a scrapy first half of football.
That should not of come as a shock really. Not only did a surprisingly hot September sun mean that a frenetic pace was never likely, but Newhaven had rust to shake off which had built up from an enforced two week rest from action because of a Covid-19 outbreak amongst the personnel at Fort Road.
It took the Dockers 34 minutes to break the deadlock. No prizes for guessing who did so; that man Robinson ensuring that Newhaven went into the break with the advantage.
At half time, the Beacon faithful were treated to what must be one of the more surreal sights that the ground has seen in its near-30 year existence.
A stag party from the west country had decided that Hassocks v Newhaven was where they wanted to spend their afternoon before going for a night out in Brighton, on account of the groom being a Swindon Town supporter and Hassocks sharing their Robins nickname with the League Two outfit.
Swindon fan Steve Underwood therefore found himself spending the day in full Hassocks kit, wearing a robin mask and dancing to Rockin’ Robin on the pitch having earlier led the teams out as the day’s official mascot.
That Underwood ended up being voted as supporter’s man of the match for his performance tells you much about just how poor the second half was from a Hassocks point of view.
Eight minutes had elapsed when Henry Watson doubled the advantage, causing the floodgates to well and truly open. Five minutes later and Robinson wrapped things up with his second and Newhaven’s third.
Robinson did not have to wait long to complete his hat-trick as less than 120 seconds later he made it 4-0. Hassocks’ misery was completed five minutes after that, Watson adding his second to round off a blistering quarter of an hour of football.
The Robins did at least manage to prevent any further damage being done to their goal difference and there was the pleasing sight of Lithuanian defender Arni Kublickas making his first appearance for a couple of seasons from the bench.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Jack Gardner, Arthur Rawlingson, Andy Whittingham; Wes Tighe, Josh Short, Jack Baden, Aflie Loversidge, Jude Wallis; Joe Bull, George Mitchell-Phillips.
Subs: Jay Hudson, Arni Kublickas, Kobe Dersley (used).
