MATCH REPORTS - FIRST TEAM

Sussex County League Division 1
Tuesday 16th October 2007
ROBINS MAKE A POINT
Hassocks 1-1 Whitehawk

HOME boss Dave John felt his side deserved Tuesday's 1-1 home draw with Whitehawk for keeping up to their work against the County League leaders and that seemed to be a view shared by many. But in truth Robins only seriously looked capable of pegging back Graham Martin's early wonder strike in the last quarter of the match. As a spectacle the game was badly marred by the constant whistle-blowing of Selsey referee Andrew Carter although it has to be stated he wasn't always at fault - despite usually earning criticism from one set of fans or the other. Under the circumstances there was little quality on show although the skills of Hawks' Martin stood out like a Beacon. Apart from his superbly struck half volley on eight minutes when Shaun Grice flicked the ball on and Richard Thompson was caught napping, there were other memorable moments from the visiting midfielder.

Hassocks certainly had no-one to come anywhere near him although Phil Gault worked hard up front and there were occasional flashes of Mark Sheriff's glory days. But Johnsy was right in that Robins never stopped beavering away and at 1-0 were always in with a chance of salvaging something. Ironically it was from a free kick awarded against Martin that the equaliser came on 77 minutes. Defender Stuart Faith got in a header that big Ross Standen could only parry and the persistent Sam Fisk bundled in the rebound. Hawks boss Russel Bromage was only feet from the incident involving Martin and was convinced from the start it was a bad a decision. Apart from making that clear to Mr Carter, he also said: 'Go on ref make my day and take the free kick as well,' which would have probably averted the equaliser.

Apart from the first couple of minutes, it was all Whitehawk in the early stages and even before their goal they had gone close when a clever flick by Grice finished with Paul Dudson turning neatly and flashing a shot across the face of goal. Stuart Faith became the first of four bookings - two for each side - when he was late on another ex-Hillian, Ryan Bradley, before Hassocks finally threatened at the other end.
Sheriff did well to work a shooting chance but the angle always favoured Standen, who saved at the expense of a corner. It was the exception rather than the rule, however, and Hawks were well worth their half-time lead.
Gault reproduced Dudson's sweet strike at about the same time in the second half but generally the game became something of a scrappy bore. Martin had what looked legitimate claims for a penalty waved aside and Joel Harding's right hand deflected a Bradley shot wide before in the last 20 minutes Hassocks finally raised their game. Sheriff made a mess of his finish when put away by Fisk and after the equaliser Brendan Leahy's goalbound header from an Anthony Hibbert corner had the sting taking out of it by a half block.

Standen was finally extended by a good cross from Gault that he could only paw away into the danger zone but at the other end Harding was caught flatfooted and left mighty relieved to see a shot by sub Louis Freitus go just wide. Hassocks invariably give Hawks a tough match and so the visitors will probably consider this a point gained rather than two lost although it cut their lead to eight points, with Crowborough having four games in hand. Considering Hawks are unbeaten in all 13 league games this season, that represents a somewhat disappointing lead

Team: Harding, Turner, Marsh, Leahy, Faith, Thompson; Fisk, Slaughter, Hibbert; Sheriff, Gault

Unused subs: Thomas, Bates, Stripp, Lear, Wickwar

Man of the Match: Phil Gault just gets the vote for his hard work up front

Bookings: Faith & Hibbert (Hassocks); Buss & Bradley (Hawks)

Report courtesy of Chris Francis, Mid Sussex Times