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MATCH
REPORTS - FIRST TEAM
Sussex County League
Division 1
Tuesday
21st August
2007
DETERMINED
ROBINS HOLD HAWKS
Whitehawk
1-1 Hassocks
3
times last season Hassocks lost to Whitehawk. They
failed to score on each occasion and in fairness
rarely looked like doing so. So after a trip to
Arundel and home match against Crowborough, the
Enclosed Ground at Whitehawk was not the fixture the
Robins would have chosen after a tough FA Cup battle
against Rye. However, Hassocks are a tough nut to
crack nowadays, with greater resolve and appetite for
a battle and this was evident on Tuesday, as the
Robins came away with a valuable point in a 1-1 draw.
Traditionally
games are tight between the sides and this was no
exception, with clear cut chances few and far between.
The Hawks were more composed on the ball but Hassocks'
grit and determination, especially uphill in the
second period probably gave them a deserved share of
the spoils.
Phil
Gault had headed just over from Sam Fisk's excellent
centre on 12 minutes, the striker probably thinking he
should have scored given the amount of space he found
in the box. Anthony Hibbert and Gault both picked up
bookings in the first half for the Robins. Whitehawk
took the lead on 35 minutes. Sam Fisk, playing at
right wing back in place of the injured Mickey Turner,
was harshly adjudged to have handled, when the ball
clearly hit his chest and from the resulting free
kick, Matt Allen poked in at the far post from Tommy
Pattenden's hook back. Keeper Joel Harding had come
for the cross but failed to get to it and must
shoulder some of the blame, although mistakes he makes
throughout the season can usually be counted on one
hand!
Early
chances in the second half fell to Toby Phillips, who
headed just wide from 6 yards and Allen, who was
denied by a fine tackle by Brendan Leahy. Once again
the Hassocks back line of Fisk, Lear, Marsh, Leahy and
Thompson looked solid, although Harding saved well
with his legs from Matt Hill on 69. Hassocks equalised
on 71, Hibbert's dinky ball fell to Fisk who lashed
home past Ross Standen from 15 yards. Harding parried
a Harry Coker 30 yarder away for a corner and despite
some late pressure from the home side with excellent
crosses and inexplicably 8 minutes of stoppage time,
the Robins held firm for a good away point.
Team:
Harding, Fisk, Thompson, Marsh, Lear, Leahy, Robbins,
Faith, Hibbert, Gault, Amos
Unused
subs: Slaughtet, Franks, Newington, Wickwar
Goal:
Fisk 71
Bookings:
Hibbert and Gault
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