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County League Division 1
Hassocks 3 Arundel 3
n by CHRIS FRANCIS
chris.francis@sussexnewspapers.co.uk
Hassocks (red) v Arundel (blue)
HASSOCKS gave improving Arundel a three-goal start and still came back to snatch a point in a highly entertaining game at the Beacon on Saturday.
With the future of the County League in severe doubt due to possible restructuring, games like this would only make its passing even more regrettable.
The hosts started brightly and clearly looked intent on getting back to normal service after their 16-match unbeaten run had come to an end in the previous outing.
But they missed some good chances and were made to pay what looked to be a heavy price as the Mullets struck three times in seven first-half minutes.
Skipper Stuart Faith did pull one back soon after but for much of the second half it looked like Robins were slipping to their second successive defeat.
But there was a sting in the tail as they struck twice in the final 15 minutes to leave opposing manager Brett Torode “gutted” and Hassocks chairman Dave John saying: “I told you so.” John had predicted a 3-3 draw from the moment Hassocks went 3-0 down.
Overall it was probably the right result and home manager Mickey Jewell must have been pleased with the substitutions as it was 70th minute arrival Jamie Weston who provided the two crosses from which Phil Gault and Phil Johnson provided the headed finishes.
The hosts were bright from the start and the outstanding Nathan Cooper gave an early indication of his excellent form with a first-time long range effort that went only inches wide.
Hassocks then had strong claims for handball in the box turned down before Anthony Hibbert and Gault missed clear chances. Hibbert was played through superbly by Sam Jeremiah but thwarted by keeper James Fernandes, while Gault skied the ball over after great work by James Westlake.
Fernandes was troubled by a knee pull and finally made way for Andy McCarthy on 22 minutes. The Mullets were fortunate to have a keeper of McCarthy’s pedigree on the bench and he served them well for the rest of the match, causing only one panic when flapping at a late corner.
As so often happens, teams get punished for missing chances but even so it was still something of a surprise that Hassocks had to pay quite such a heavy price.
But in skipper Scott Tipper and strike partner Gary Norgate Arundel have a potent strike force and on 28 minutes Norgate effortlessly took the ball inside Ashley Marsh and elegantly stroked it past keeper Jack Simpson. Just 90 seconds later Simpson saved well from Tipper but the ball was never cleared and Lewis Jenkins finally rapped in the loose ball.
It should have been game over when a great through ball by Ashley Hunter played through Norgate and the flag stayed down as he took his chance clinically.
But Robins replied two minutes later when Westgate won a free kick that was expertly delivered by Chris Maynard and headed in by Faith.
In first-half stoppage time Johnson could have narrowed the gap further but his unconvincing finish enabled McCarthy to save with his legs.
It looked like both sides had more goals in them but spectators had to wait until late on to see some more – and they both came from Hassocks. Gault headed in at the far post and then Johnson scored with a diving header at the near post.
There was still time for Gault to miss with another free header but in the end it was the right result.
Hassocks: J Simpson; South, Marsh, Faith, Maynard; Cooper; Westlake, Hibbert, Gault, Johnson; Jeremiah. Subs: B Palmer (Faith, 65), Weston (Maynard, 69), Miles (Jeremiah, 76).
Middy Starman: Nathan Cooper, outstanding in the all-important Kieran O’Callaghan holding role and proved there’s much more to his game.
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Sunday 27 May 2012
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