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MATCH
REPORTS - FIRST TEAM
Carlsberg FA Vase 1st
Round
Saturday
06th
October
2007
10-MAN
ROBINS BATTLE TO VASE VICTORY
Hassocks
2-0 Ash United
Hassocks
progressed to the 2nd round of the FA Vase
and a trip to either Marlow United or Lymington Town,
after a gutsy 2-0 win over high flying Ash United of
the Combined Counties League. They did so after
playing the last 35 minutes with 10 men, following the
dismissal of Stuart Faith for two bookings. The first
for a foul was harsh, the second for kicking the ball
away was nothing short of a joke. Referee Mr Walsh
from Waterlooville seemed out of his depth all
afternoon, hardly giving the Robins a decision and
earning the wrath of the Hassocks faithful on many
occasions.
However,
Hassocks dug in deep against good opponents, weathered
a bit of a storm and ground out a superb win in the
end. For the first 20 minutes of the game, Ash passed
the ball around confidently, looked assured on the
ball and the lively front pairing of Brad Smith and
Gavin Evans gave the Robins back line plenty to think
about. But in this period they failed to gain the lead
that their play deserved and Hassocks gradually played
their way back into the game. Clear chances were at a
premium, Faith’s looping header went over the bar
and Joel Harding easily smothered a Davis header. Phil
Gault missed the best chance on 25 minutes, shooting
straight at Chris Andrews, after being put clear by
Matt Robbins. The ever reliable Peter Lear cleared a
goalbound header from Chris Atkins away for a corner,
whilst Gault’s shot from an Anthony Hibbert corner
was blocked.
Hibbert
gave Hassocks the lead on 48 minutes, his exquisite
25-yard curler from a Gault lay off nestled in the
right hand corner of the net, catching Andrews off his
line. On 57 minutes it should have been 2-0, Lear
blazing over from 10 yards with the keeper on the
ground and an open goal in front of him, following a
Gault challenge. Faith was dismissed on the hour,
kicking the ball away, a spilt second after Mr Marsh
awarded a free kick against him. A small slice of
common sense would have sufficed, the Hassocks
defender was not attempting to waste time or trying to
hold up play in an effort to get back. Hassocks re-organised
immediately, Brendan Leahy replaced Richard Thompson,
with Sam Fisk taking over at left back from his
central midfield role. The Robins doubled the lead on
67, Gault holding off his man, turning and striking
home from 8 yards. It was the breathing space that
Hassocks needed and despite having plenty of
possession, Ash did not really hurt the home defence
and Harding was relatively quiet in goal, although he
did have to react with a fine parry from Smith’s
volley. The players left the field to a fine reception
from the home crowd, pleased with the second half
display and the battling qualities shown.
Team;
Harding, Turner, Thompson (Leahy 63), Marsh, Lear,
Faith, Robbins, Slaughter, Hibbert, Gault (Thomas 87),
Fisk
Unused
subs: Jacques, Robinson, Wickwar
Man
of the Match: Difficult to pick one player, so sitting
on the fence, aware goes to whole team for a battling
display
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