Robins battle but quadruple chasing Golds prove too good in big semi
Hassocks were never likely to end their 120 year wait to reach a senior final when they were paired in semis of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup with Southern Combination League champions Littlehampton Town.
The Robins though gave a good account of themselves even as they went down to a 2-0 defeat against opponents eyeing up four pieces of silverware this season.
Over the next few weeks, Littlehampton will meet Saltdean United in the RUR Cup final, Newhaven in the Peter Bentley League Cup final and Newport Pagnell Town at Wembley in the FA Vase final. The Premier Division trophy had been secured for the cabinet at St Flora Sportsfield on Saturday.
The Hassocks programme cheekily hoped that Littlehampton had celebrated their triumph a little too hard, with hangovers stretching out more than 72 hours to give the Robins half a chance against opponents who finished 15 places and 53 points ahead of Hassocks in the table.
No such luck. Whilst Marigolds fans were in party mood – they turned up with fireworks and flares and let them off before, during and after the game, including a rogue firework which was lucky not to cause injury at half time – their players got the job done despite having to play for over an hour with 10 men.
Most in attendance amongst the biggest Beacon crowd for several years were probably expecting a cakewalk for the visitors, especially when Littlehampton took the lead with only 12 minutes on the clock.
Dan Tuner has been outstanding for the Robins this season, so it was a shame that he was at fault for the goal. The sight of Turner striding around attackers with the ball at his feet has become a common one at the Beacon but it of course comes with risks.
On this occasion, Turner was dispossessed in the Hassocks box by George Gaskin, who was then fouled by Bradley Tighe.
Joe Benn converted the resulting penalty past Alex Harris, after which a flare was thrown onto the pitch towards the Hassocks goalkeeper by the visiting fans gathered on the bank behind the goal.
The Sussex FA will no doubt have something to say about that. Hassocks officials also reported having to clear the remains of the visitors’ pyrotechnics, empty beer cans and broken glass from the children’s’ play park behind the goal afterwards.
Littlehampton fans were not the only ones in trouble either; on 28 minutes, Scott Kirkwood picked up a straight red card to put the Marigolds down to 10 and leave him facing the prospect of being suspended for the trip to Wembley.
Kirkwood was high, reckless and late when lunging in on Jack Troak from behind as the Robins tried to break. Referee Barrie Small had no choice but to send the one-time Hassocks midfielder for an early bath with the lack of complaints from the Littlehampton players and bench telling.
The Marigolds nearly provided the perfect response to the red card, some lovely intricate passing creating an opening for Benn to rattle the bar.
Hassocks had set out to sit back, frustrate and pick their moments playing on the counter. The red card changed that slightly and the Robins became a bit more of an attacking force as the first half wore on.
A glorious chance to level the tie arrived seven minutes before the break. The Westlake brothers and Troak were involved, working the ball to Joe Bull to hit a fierce drive which James Binfield acrobatically kept out.
Without that save, the tie may well have taken a different turn. Instead, Littlehampton doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with their 200th goal of the campaign.
Hassocks were their own worst enemy, leaving Gaskin free to head home a corner. Two preventable goals had Littlehampton with one foot in the final.
Still, the Robins kept battling. Other than Harris saving well from Benn and the woodwork being rattled again, Littlehampton found it hard to carve out many goal scoring opportunities despite having stuck 10 past Hassocks in the two league meetings between the sides.
Brad Sweetman switched things up on the hour mark, introducing Sam Smith in place of Bull to provide a focal point for the attack.
Nine minutes after his introduction and Smith had a great chance to pull one back, volleying over the bar from 15 yards after good work from Josh Short.
A goal at that point would have made things interesting. Unfortunately, it was not to be as the Robins found Littlehampton just a little too good.
There is no shame in that, of course. Littlehampton now have three cup finals to complete their season. Hassocks meanwhile can be pleased with a campaign in which they avoided relegation after a sticky start and gave their fans a memorable RUR Cup run.
Hassocks: Alex Harris; Arthur Rawlingson, Dan Turner, Bradley Tighe, Bradley Bant; Joe Bull, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Jack Troak; Alfie Loversidge, Josh Short.
Subs: Sam Smith, Charlie Broad, Luke Marshall (used), Wes Tighe, Jack Baden (unused).
