Bragging rights stay with Robins

It is now eight games since Rangers beat their local rivals in the league (2-1 at the Beacon back on Boxing Day 2009) but with confidence sky high after 10 wins and three draws in the previous 14 games, the hosts must have fancied their chances of ending the jinx.

Typically, it was close enough but Hassocks had the best player on the pitch in quality striker Nathan Miles and that helped give them the edge.

There was talk of offside when he raced on to Elliott Butler’s ball through the middle on 20 minutes but there was no doubt about the calibre of the finish on a difficult surface and with his supposedly weaker foot.

Neither side looked comfortable defending set-pieces and Robins’ second goal on 34 minutes was all about Gault’s ability to find space to work a free header from James Westlake’s excellent corner although the ball went in via the back of Miles to give him a second goal.

It would have been a long way back from there had the otherwise impressive Ashley Marsh not blotted his copybook five minutes later. He tried to usher the ball out but had his pocket felt by Daley Clark and the resulting cross was tapped in by Brannon O’Neill.

More Miles magic pulled a decent save from Rob Gordon soon after and in the second half it looked as if it might stay that way until this time Robins failed to defend a corner. Geoff Pitcher made a double change five minutes earlier and it was the two new men who came up trumps, with Sam Jeremiah heading in Andy Mott’s corner.

With the usually lively Josh Perry and Kieran Pamment well shackled by the visiting defence that looked as if it could be a decent result for Rangers.

But the jinx and their poor defending from set-pieces was again punished.

Westgate delivered another superb left wing corner, although it has to be stated the ball was well outside the semi circle, and this time it was Nathan Cooper who was allowed to rise and head the 78th minute winner.

Cooper won his fair share of headers all match and is a major influence in midfield.

But it is the other Nathan, Miles, who takes the plaudits as he showed tremendous control throughout on what was a far from easy surface.

After picking up seven bookings on Saturday, Rangers accumulated another three in this match (Messrs O’Neill, Walsh and Pamment). As for Robins this was a welcome third win in nine games, although there was the almost obligatory booking for skipper Stuart Faith.

Rangers: Gordon, Dodd, Walsh, Lawrence, Barnes; O’Neill; Rose, Pitcher, Clark; Perry, Pamment. Subs: Mott & Jeremiah (Rose & Pitcher, 67), Fugl (Perry, 74). Unused subs: Aquilina, Maskell.

Hassocks: Lehkyj; South, Marsh, Faith, Bryant; Westlake, N Cooper, Butler, Weston; Miles, Gault. Subs: N Pitcher (Miles, 87). Unused subs: Brown, L Cooper.