Leaders show their pedigree

East Preston 4

by Paul Elphick

This meeting between the teams that started the day in the top two spots underlined just what a gulf in quality exists.

True, the Robins had plenty missing but the big-spending visitors were superior by a country mile and after letting slip a nine-point lead at Christmas last season, will surely not allow the same to happen this time around.

Manager Dom Di Paola certainly is doing his best to keep the players focused and felt this was their best performance of the season.

Early signs were ominous for Hassocks although Ashley Marsh got back just in the nick of time to clear when Mike Huckett nicked the ball past home keeper Alex Harris after only four minutes.

Harris had absolutely no chance with a 35-yard blockbuster by Darren Boswell on 18 minutes but then failed to hold a Boswell free kick, allowing Charlie Farmer to make it 2-0 just two minutes later.

Hassocks barely saw the ball before the break, with their only chance coming after 41 minutes when Mark Price’s free kick eluded everyone before central defender Nick Pitcher hit the ball into the sidenetting.

It was no better for home supporters after the break as Kevin Keehan had a shot blocked by Marsh and Farmer headed over from a corner.

Anthony Hibbert did go close with a 25-yard free kick but it was only in the last 10 minutes that the Robins showed much pride - and by then they were 4-0 down after another swift double salvo by the leaders.

Boswell scored his second from the angle on 66 minutes after Shaheen Sadough turned Marsh, and Liam Bateup provided the cross. And then three minutes later Harris could only parry Huckett’s strike and Joe Shelley scored with a neat back heel.

It was only late on that Hassocks seriously threatened, with half-time sub Nathan Cooper underlining his positive influence by putting Dan Stokes through one-on-one, only for the youngster to put his effort wide.

In a good tempered match referee Kevin Roberts somehow managed to dispense seven yellow cards.

Hassocks: Harris; Gathern, Marsh, Pitcher, Davees; Ingham (N Cooper, 45), Hibbert, Price (Stokes, 53); Smith, Gault, Czech (Dove, 70). Middy Starman: Nathan Cooper, back after a lengthy absence.