5-1, EVEN MARSHY SCORED
There was no upset in the Sussex Senior Cup second round battle of the birds as the Swans of Storrington were soundly beaten 5-1 by the Robins of Hassocks.
On paper, this looked like a potential banana skin for Hassocks. They were up against determined opponents from the division below on a Recreation Ground pitch that looked difficult to play on and with a strong wind blowing from one end to the other.
If Storrington thought the conditions might be a leveller, then they were in for a rude awakening. The Robins gave a thoroughly professional performance, bossing the first half despite playing against that wind and had the tie virtually won as they turned around 3-1 up.
James Westlake got the party started with a shot on the turn after 17 minutes. Then on the half hour mark, there was a total surprise as Ashley Marsh made it 2-0.
In over 300 games for Hassocks, Marsh had only managed to get on the scoresheet once before. That had come some eight years earlier, a first time volley from 30 yards to open the scoring in a 4-1 win over Southwick.
Then-Robins boss Dave John described it afterwards as one of the best goals he had ever seen, and Johnsy has seen quite a lot.
Marsh’s second in Hassocks colours was not quite as spectacular and it needed a helping hand from a linesman to count, the official flagging to indicate that the third shot of a game of ping-pong from a corner had crossed the line.
Storrington had barely threatened but 10 minutes after Marsh struck, a Will Conway shot from distance took a slight deflection off Lee Bryant to beat goalkeeper Simon Lehkyj on his Robins debut.
That sparked a madcap finish to the first half. Two minutes later and referee Jacob Miles harshly adjudged Marsh to have fouled some 25 yards out from goal.
Conway struck a superb free kick which rattled the underside of Lehkyj’s cross bar, from which Hassocks swept up the other end within 60 seconds to make it 3-1. Jamie Weston was the architect, leading the counter attack before playing in Dan Smith who made no mistake.
A two-goal lead was the least the Robins deserved for their first half efforts – parity would have been a travesty had Conway’s effort gone in – and the visitors set about adding to their total in the second half with the wind now in their favour.
Smith scored his second and Hassocks’ fourth when picking the pocket of Swans goalkeepers Matt Chester on the hour.
The fifth and final goal arrived two minutes later, Rob South overlapping down the right to provide a low cross and a close range finish for Anthony Hibbert.
It was a surprise to see Mr Miles flash three yellow cards in the second half of a contest which was mild mannered throughout.
Two of those booking went to Storrington players. The Hassocks offender was Smith and it cost him the chance of a hat-trick, Mickey Jewell immediately withdrawing his fiery striker to prevent yellow becoming red.
Smith passed up a couple of opportunities for his treble prior to his removal, curling wide of the far post in a lively showing.
That was in contrast to his strike partner Phil Gault, who cut an unusually subdued figure and rarely looked like getting on the scoresheet. Perhaps he was suffering from shock at Marsh netting?
A good evening then for Hassocks, who also got captain Stuart Faith’s one-match suspension out of the way without him having to miss a league game in the Robins’ quest for a top three finish.
Bryant did well standing in at centre back whilst Lehkyj was given his chance in goal ahead of James Plumley, having originally been due to start in Saturday’s postponed Division One game at home to Arundel when Plumley was away.
With two quality goalkeepers on the books vying to replace the Worthing-bound Jack Simpson, Jewell may face something of a dilemma trying to keep them both happy – although it is a problem most managers would be prepared to live with.
Hassocks: Simon Lehkyj; Rob South, Ashley Marsh, Lee Bryant, Elliott Butler; James Westlake, Anthony Hibbert, Spencer Slaughter, Jamie Weston; Phil Gault, Dan Smith.
Subs: Kieran O’Callaghan, Luke Pawson, Tom Davess (used).
