MATCH REPORTS - FIRST TEAM

John O'Hara League Challenge Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 29th September
ROBINS BLOW AWAY HEATH
Broadbridge Heath 0-5 Hassocks

FOR the first 18 minutes it looked as if the Division 2 hosts could give Hassocks more than a run for their money but a goal from the first serious attack by Dave John’s team put this League Cup tie in perspective.
In the end it was a cakewalk for Robins as Heath slipped to a fourth successive defeat, conceding 15 goals in the process. But only a week earlier the closest game in that sequence had come against Three Bridges, where Hassocks drew 1-1 in midweek, although surely Heath could not have fielded the same defence that offered such scant resistance on Saturday.

As bright as Heath were going forward, particularly early on, then as dull they were at the back.Their ageing and laboured defence was little better than an intermediate outfit and in the end the scoreline could have been even more embarrassing. But not that visiting boss John was dwelling on the shortcomings of the opposition. He said afterwards: ‘’After the early exchanges we did the job and you can’t really ask for any more than that.’’ With Matt Amos having gone off to Cambridge University, James Laing unavailable and Mark Sherrif playing and scoring for the reserves, Johnsy reverted to his usual preferred option of pushing the highly influential Matt Robbins forward from midfield. And it was Robbins who provided a splendidly clinical finish after great work by left back Richard Thompson on 18 minutes. Thompson had a superb first 45 minutes and it was fitting he should score the second goal 10 minutes later when Robbins, somewhat inadvertently returned the compliment. The consistent Mickey Turner found Robbins and his mishit shot proved the perfect pass for Thompson’s silky left foot to provide the finish.

Before the opening goal Heath had looked much the better side and missed a great chance on eight minutes when the visitors defended woefully from a Chris Hughes free kick but defender Jamie Fiveash directed his header straight at the grateful Joel Harding. The opening goal changed the balance of play, however, although at 2-0 at half time the hosts could still have retained some hope. In truth they should have been further behind as a minute after Thompson’s goal Robbins set up Anthony Hibbert for a clear shooting chance he put well wide. It was obvious the next goal would be key and when it fell to Hassocks 10 minutes after the break, that was game,set and match. Phil Gault found Robbins and he played Hibbert through to more than make amends with a fine finish.

It was then a case of who might get on the scoresheet and much of the smart money would have been on Gault, who had been only inches wide from an excellent Thompson cross on 51 minutes. He made no mistake after 66 minutes when prospering from a fortunate break of the ball. Robbins was destined to end the game in his slightly more familiar midfield role but before that it was his power headers from Hibbert corners that caught the eye. The first was saved by Joe Comper but the second was cleared off the line and finally fell for central defender Peter Lear to score his third goal of the season with a well controlled half volley.
You always know Hassocks are on easy street when they give a run out to all their subs and so it was on Saturday. Robbins was unlucky not to add his second with a header from Turner’s cross but in the closing minutes only the legs of Harding denied Nick Humble a consolation goal for Heath.

Hassocks: Harding, Turner, Marsh, Faith, Leahy, Thompson; Fisk, Hibbert, Slaughter; Robbins, Gault

Subs: B Leahy (Faith, 73), Newington and Mackenzie (Slaughter & Fisk, 78)

Man of the Match: Richard Thompson, quality first half performance and only a pity he did not see as much of the ball after the break

Report courtesy of Chris Francis, Mid Sussex Times