Below par Robins have no fun in defeat against the YMCA
Proof if it were needed that this young Hassocks side still have much to learn came at the Beacon as a below-par showing resulted in a 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Horsham YMCA.
YM arrived in Mid Sussex just two places and three points better off than the Robins, who themselves had put in their best and most consistent run of performances over the past few weeks – even if results have not necessarily matched.
That was not the case here though. Hassocks took an hour to register their first meaningful shot on target and without several excellent stops from Charlie Pugh, YM would have been out of sight long before they did eventually hit their 80th minute winner.
For Pugh, this was a similar story to the one he wrote on Tuesday night against Eastbourne United. Pugh was outstanding then in ensuring that United only scored three times, although Hassocks did at least direct far more questions of their own towards the United defence than they managed against YM.
The Robins made one change from the side who had gone down 3-0 against United, Charlie Tuck returning at the expense of Jack Gardner who dropped down to the bench.
Pugh set the stall out for his afternoon when producing a fine full stretch tip over from former Dorking Wanderers goal machine Tom Tolfrey after only two minutes.
YM took the lead with their next opportunity which arrived three minutes later. A long throw into the box was not properly dealt with, leaving the experienced Mark Pritchard-Cave in acres of space to fire home.
Going 1-0 behind did stir Hassocks briefly into life. Joe Bull led a trademark counter attack by scampering down the left flank and his low centre into the box was inches away from being turned home by strike partner Alfie Loversidge.
Chances in the box may have been at a premium for the Robins, but Bull and Loversidge were at least starting to cause problems outside the area.
One such instance earned Hassocks a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the YM box. James Westlake stepped up and although his effort beat the wall, it lacked the power to trouble Aaron Jeal who plucked the ball easily from the air.
Another set piece opportunity came Hassocks’ way, this time from 30 yards out. Bradley Bant was charged with this one but his effort was clipped over the bar.
YM reasserted themselves following those opportunities. Dan Evans rattled a post with a great effort before Hassocks became their own worst enemies in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Overplaying at the back led to a glorious chance for YM until the Robins just about recovered to scramble the ball away for a corner.
A bad header then gave Tolfrey another sight of goal. On this occasion, Pugh did well to stand Tolfrey up and the chance was missed.
Whatever Hassocks were trying was clearly not working and so 10 minutes into the second half, Brad Sweetman removed Connor Bradley for the evergreen Phil Gault.
Gault’s scheming against one of his former clubs brought some improvement and within five minutes, Jeal was forced into his first real piece of work when tipping a Bull effort over.
120 seconds after that and Loversidge was hacked down, giving Hassocks yet another free kick. Gault decided he fancied a go at this one but his low effort shanked into the wall and spooned up into the YM box, causing far more chaos and confusion than it should have done.
The Robins were at least earning plenty of fouls. Eventually, one of those took place in the area when fine work from Bull led to him being felled and referee Robert King pointing to the penalty spot.
Having seen Josh Short miss from 12 yards in the midweek defeat to Eastbourne United, responsibility this time fell on the shoulders of Gault.
Needless to say, the veteran did not disappoint, beating Jeal easily. It was his first goal for the Robins since a 2-1 Sussex Senior Cup win over Mile Oak in October 2017 and his 186th overall. The chase for 200 is on.
Hassocks were the slightly better side in the final 25 minutes without ever managing to trouble Jeal. It was against the run of play when YM found the decider as the game entered the final 10 minutes, Tolfrey getting the goal his performance probably did deserve via a deflected shot which beat the despairing Pugh.
Hassocks: Charlie Pugh; Charlie Tuck, Luke Marshall, Bradley Tighe, Andy Whittingham; James Westlake, Connor Bradley, Josh Short, Bradley Bant; Alfie Loversidge, Joe Bull.
Subs: Phil Gault, Lucas Tyrrell (used), Jack Gardner, Arthur Rawlingson, Jude Wallis (unused).
