VIDEO: Gault has it in for Lingfield

by Chris Francis

Phil Gault bagged a hat-trick on Saturday to make it three wins in three meetings with Lingfield this season.

The hosts’ prolific marksman has scored six ofRobins’ seven goals in those games and certainly had it in for the visitors, whose passionate but highly volatile manager ‘Dixie’ Dean was sent from the bench in the second half.

While one could sympathise fully with Dean’s sentiments - he felt, understandably, that Dan Jacques deserved a booking for a blatant foul - his way of making the point to referee Michael Ryan could not be condoned and the official was left with no choice after a verbal tirade that went on a painfully long time.

With a tribute planned for the late Ann John, the wife of long-time manager Dave John, the hosts were keen to get the game on despite plenty of boggy patches on the Beacon pitch. The home players wore shirts with Ann’s name on the front and there was a minute’s applause before the match.

In fairness, the pitch was difficult but playable and probably as much of a factor was the increasingly strong wind that howled down the length of the pitch.

Lingfield enjoyed it at their backs in the first half but after a bright start, they fell behind to a penalty as Alfie Dean upended Craig Knowles and Gault made no mistake from the spot.

The lead lasted barely more than a minute, however, as from a free kick by Lingfield playmaker and skipper Gareth Graham, the talented Joel O’Hara got up well to head home from close range.

O’Hara was probably the best player on the pitch in the first half and he also had the knack of being able to wind up several of his opponents.

It stayed at 1-1 until half time and Robins then used the wind factor to good effect as they sealed the win with two goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.

A howler by Jason Stillwell enabled Gault to volley in the first from point blank range after the visiting keeper let Anthony Hibbert’s corner drop from his grasp and 10 minutes later Stillwell was well beaten by a powerful Gault finish from open play.

It was fairly comfortable for Hassocks from there and they, and Gault in particular, could have added to their tally.

But 3-1 would have suited returning manager Mickey Jewell as his side had failed to win in the three games he had missed while in hospital.

Of concern was an injury to Nathan Cooper whose shoulder again popped out and had to be put back by physio Robin Bishop. It seems there may be something of a weakness there for the inluential player who is only just returning from injury.

Not surprisingly, the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Ryan John, who came on as sub for Knowles in the last 10 minutes.

There were bookings for Jamie Ingham and Rob South, together with visiting skipper Gareth Graham.

Hassocks: Harris; Gathern, Marsh, Pitcher, Davees; Hibbert, Cooper (South, 68), Ingham (Price, 63), Jacques; Gault, Knowles (John, 80).