Headed heaven for Hassocks as they wheel past Barrowmen in League Cup
It was headed heaven at the Beacon as Hassocks Under 23s progressed to the second round of the Southern Combination Under 23 League Cup with a 3-1 win over Steyning Town.
All of the Robins goals came from headers against their North Division rivals with victory earning a third round home tie against Arundel, who are currently in the lower reaches of the West Division.
Given the circumstances Hassocks found themselves in, this was one of their most impressive displays of the season.
A bit of an injury crisis is ripping through the Beacon at the minute and with the first team in the midst of a busy run of games, the Robins have temporarily abandoned their policy of mixing a couple of senior players in with the Under 23s each week.
That meant Hassocks had to do without Jordan Badger and Josh Hawkes, both of whom had starred in the previous week’s 4-1 win over Oakwood in which Badger scored twice.
The Robins were also without Sean McSwiney and Wes Tighe whilst goalkeeper Harvey Parker was rested to give Ryan West another opportunity between the posts.
On the plus side, last season’s Under 23s and Under 18s top scorer Lewis Beebee was back from a spell on the sidelines.
Luke Marshall stepped up his return from injury by completing 90 minutes whilst two players were promoted from the bench – George Mercer and Marshall Smith, the latter of whose opportunity was well deserved after two goals from his past three substitute appearances.
Steyning arrived with plenty of experience in their ranks and Hassocks knew they would be in for a tough evening based on the September league meeting between these sides at the Shooting Field.
The Robins had to rely on two goals from Connor Bradley – returning from injury on the bench here – on that occasion after he answered the call to help having begun the campaign not only in the first team, but by winning Hassocks’ August Player of the Month award.
Both sides were evenly matched in this one for much of the first half until Beebee broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval with a clinical header his first Under 23s goal of the season.
Charlie Tuck was next to use his head to earn a rare appearance on the scoresheet, doubling the advantage on 66 minutes.
Steyning pulled one back on 87 – disappointingly not scored via a header – through Marley Heath. That looked like it might set up a nervous finale as the Barrowmen tried to force extra time.
Hassocks though needed just 120 seconds to add their third and end Steyning’s hopes of progression. Marshall was the scorer, meeting a delivery into the box with the sort of towering header that the teenage defender specialises in to make it 3-1.
Hassocks: Ryan West, George Mercer, Jack Baden, Luke Marshall, Charlie Tuck, Jude Wallis, Harvey Ransome, Marshall Smith, Ben Hicks, Lewis Beebee, Archie Russell.
Subs: Connor Bradley, Alex Crawford, Jacob Kilkelly, Arthur Rawlingson, Harvey Parker.
