Captain Jack at the double to give Hassocks a rare big semi
You can count on one hand the number of semi finals Hassocks have made in their near-40 years in senior football.
The Peter Bentley League Cup in 1997. The Sussex RUR Charity Cup in 1994, 2000, 2012 and now 2022 following a 2-0 win away at Seaford Town in the last eight. These are heady times for the Robins.
None of those previous four occasions have resulted in a final and Hassocks face a tough ask in breaking that duck.
They will face either Southern Combination Premier Division title favourites and FA Vase semi finalists Littlehampton Town or Chichester City of the Isthmian League in the final four.
To have even made it that far though is a fine achievement given that the Robins looked like relegation fodder in the opening three months of the campaign.
Brad Sweetman and his players have come a long way over the course of this season to now be part of a rather exclusive group of Hassocks teams to call themselves semi finalists.
It needed a thoroughly professional performance against a Seaford outfit enjoying their best campaign for 25 years.
The Badgers are in the thick of the promotion race and Hassocks know only too well that there is little difference between the top of Division One and the bottom of the Premier, having exited the Peter Bentley Cup to Roffey back in September when things were bleak at the Beacon.
Hassocks had been due to host this game but two postponements meant the tie was switched to the Crouch as per competition rules.
Not only did the Robins overcome losing home advantage, but they also played for most of the second half with 10 men.
Bradley Tighe saw red on 48 minutes against his former club for appearing to flick Alex Saunders in the back of the head in an off-the-ball incident.
That was very much out of character for Hassocks’ current vice captain. Both the goals had already been scored by the time Tighe departed through captain Jack Troak, who was having one of those games where he is genuinely unplayable.
The impact Troak’s return from six months out injured has had in turning the Robins’ season around cannot be understated.
Seaford were without both manager Paul Wise and assistant John Kirby through illness, which meant their former Ladies coach Billy Pout being asked to take the reigns.
Both sides appeared nervous in the early stages, the opening 15 minutes resembling a game of basketball in which possession was frequently turned over.
The closest either came in that period was when one-time Hassocks midfielder Matt Ford had a shot blocked at the back post by Dan Turner after a long throw caused some issues.
For the Robins, a 35 yard volley from James Westlake which just reached goalkeeper Mike Platt’s hands was as good as it got.
Home striker Matt Holland was forced off injured on 17 minutes and this appeared to disrupt the Badgers’ rhythm as Hassocks took the lead shortly after.
Josh Short picked the ball up on halfway and embarked on a typically tricky run past three or four Seaford players.
Once Short reached the box, defender Ollie Lee decided that the best course of action would be bring to bring the Hassocks forward down just inside the area. Troak confidently despatched the resulting penalty into the top left corner of Platt’s goal.
Hassocks enjoyed their best period after that, leaving Seaford trying to hang on until half time and the opportunity to regroup.
Unfortunately for the Badgers, they could not quite get there as Hassocks chose the perfect time to double their advantage, Troak scoring two minutes before the break.
Lewis Westlake popped up in a wide position to send over a cross which Troak ran across a couple of home defenders to poke home from close range.
Tighe’s red card necessitated a reshuffle from Sweetman. Sam Smith moved from his forward role to fill in at centre back, Charlie Broad came on to provide a focal point to the attack with his target man skillset and Alfie Loversidge was the sacrificial lamb who made way.
Seaford had more of the ball after Hassocks went down to 10 but they failed to really test Alex Harris, who was able to enjoy a very quiet evening thanks to the phenomenal work rate and excellent organisation going on in front of him.
Turner, Smith, Arthur Rawlingson and Jack Baden as a back four in particular were superb as the Badgers became increasingly desperate in their attempts to find a way back into the game.
By the full time whistle, that had manifested itself in the form of yellow cards for Callum Edwards, George Maybury and Matt Simpson in the final 13 minutes.
It would be no surprise to see these sides meet again in the Premier Division next season via a Seaford promotion. For Hassocks, all eyes are now on a big semi.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Arthur Rawlingson, Dan Turner, Bradley Tighe, Jack Baden; Alfie Loversidge, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Jack Troak; Sam Smith, Josh Short.
Subs: Charlie Broad, Joe Bull, Lucas Tyrrell (used), Ben Hicks (unused).
