Tightest vote ever sees Turner just about take the crown
He was the defensive heart of a fine February for Hassocks so it is a richly deserved first Player of the Month award of the season for Dan Turner.
The importance of the defender to this Robins side was made abundantly clear in the final game of January when he was carried from the field of play against Bexhill United early in the second half.
Hassocks were holding visitors chasing a top three finish 1-1 at the time. Within 15 minutes of Turner’s departure, the Robins found themselves 4-1 down and with the game gone.
Thankfully, Turner recovered to play away at Crawley Down Gatwick three days later in Hassocks’ first fixture of February.
He was superb at the Haven. The Robins know only too well about the threat Charlie Pitcher poses and yet Turner marshalled him superbly, setting the scene for Hassocks to win 3-1 against the Anvils in what was arguably the best result and performance of the campaign so far.
Very different qualities were needed when the Robins went to AFC Uckfield Town and picked up another vital three points from a 1-0 win.
The pitch at the Oaks made getting the ball down impossible and a strong wind blowing from one end to the other meant that the aerial route was only a viable option for 45 minutes.
Turner and his defensive partner Bradley Tighe were colossal in heading everything away when Hassocks were defending the gale.
As well as helping to earn a clean sheet, Turner also provided the only goal when his long throw was flicked over the Uckfield goalkeeper and into the back of the net by Charlie Broad.
Turner was then one of the only Hassocks players to emerge from defeat at AFC Varndeanians with any credit before going onto help Hassocks to a second clean sheet from four February fixtures in the 0-0 draw with Loxwood.
With just 1.7 percent of the vote separating the top two, this was one of the Robins’ closest ever Player of the Month awards.
James Westlake was the man who came close to pipping Turner at the post thanks to a set of industrious midfield performances, including a rare goal.
Westlake notched his first since returning to the club from Loxwood in October when equalising against Crawley Down in a man-of-the-match performance.
Hassocks fans were even treated to the rare sight of an angry Westlake, such was his determination and drive to come away from the Haven with all three points.
Westlake went onto be at the heart of most of the good stuff the Robins did in the Loxwood draw, the only thing missing from his showing that day being a goal which would have given Hassocks all three points.
Third place behind Turner and Westlake went to Jack Baden, who has been an absolute revelation at left back since taking over from the injured Andy Whittingham.
Baden has a claim to being Hassocks’ most underrated player, so it is nice to see him finally getting some of the credit he deserves after being part of that defence who recorded two shutouts in February.
