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MATCH
REPORTS - FIRST TEAM
Carlsberg FA Vase 2nd
Qualifying Round
Saturday
22nd
September
2007
ROBINS
BACK ON TRACK IN VASE VICTORY
Eastbourne
United Association 2-4 Hassocks
After
2 successive defeats, Hassocks got back on track with
an excellent and thoroughly deserved 4-2 win at
Eastbourne United Association. This sets up a clash in
the 1st round proper of the FA Vase with
old adversaries, Ash United, who are having a fine
season in the Combined Counties League.
For
once, the Robins were on their game from the start and
took the lead in the 3rd minute, Matt Amos
prodding home a Phil Gault flick on from Joel
Harding’s long kick. Matt Robbins doubled the
Hassocks lead on 16 minutes, with a neat shot into the
corner after a fine turn, following good work from
Mickey Turner and Gault. It could have been 3 a minute
later, Gault firing over, with the United defence all
at sea. A fine move involving Gault, Anthony Hibbert
and Turner saw Robbins blaze over when well placed,
whilst at the other end Harding saved easily from a
long distance Mark Warren effort. The Robins back 3 of
Faith, Lear and Marsh, which had under-performed
against both Hailsham and Worthing United, looked a
lot more secure and United rarely threatened in a half
which Hassocks totally dominated. Hibbert’s
thunderbolt from 15 yards ricocheted off the underside
of the bar just before the break to keep United in the
game.
At
half time United brought on the giant Drew Greenall
and his physical presence caused Hassocks problems in
an opening 15-minute period dominated by the home
side. They halved the lead on 54 minutes with a
well-worked goal from Warren, the home striker heading
home powerfully from Sam Crabb’s cross. Warren and
Greenall both went close as Hassocks struggled to gain
the upper hand. However on 64 minutes it was 3-1, Amos
got behind the back of Reece Head and Joe Haffenden
and the young Robins striker’s crisp volley from 18
yards beat the despairing Sam Reed in the United goal.
Reed immediately went off with a back injury, as did
Amos. Faith headed over a Hibbert corner and Gault
curled an effort just over the bar with sub keeper
James Furman beaten. Harding was then replaced by Phil
Wickwar, after aggravating a hamstring injury. Wickwar
could do nothing to stop Crabb’s fierce shot with 5
minutes remaining but almost immediately Hassocks
restored the two-goal lead, Gault nodding in from
close range from Turner’s excellent centre. It was a
thoroughly entertaining encounter both sides deserving
praise for trying to play football on a difficult
surface.
Team;
Harding (Wickwar 74), Turner, Fisk, Marsh, Lear,
Faith, Robbins, Slaughter (Newington 88), Hibbert,
Gault, Amos (Thompson 66)
Unused
sub: Simpson
Man
of the Match: Great all-round team performance, but
just goes to Matt Robbins, industrious and busy
throughout
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