Robins bounce back with Gault double

by Scott McCarthy

Any worries about a lingering Hassocks hangover from a disappointing first league defeat of the season to lowly Ringmer three days earlier were banished in the most impressive manner on Tuesday.

They inflicted Dorking’s first league defeat in a third meeting between the teams already this season.

Phil Gault scored the only goal in two cup meetings and the hosts will be glad to see the back of him for now after his double sent them to defeat and out of second place, which the Robins duly took.

Manager Mickey Jewell rang the changes after Saturday’s defeat with Nathan Cooper, Jamie Hillwood, Nick Pitcher and Dan Jacques all coming into the starting eleven.

And it was reserve team captain Jacques who took starman billing on his 99th appearance for the club after making a number of key interceptions in a high energy performance in the midfield.

Generator problems meant the game was five minutes late kicking off after a 15 minute floodlight failure and when things did get underway it was Hassocks who started the encounter the better.

Gault shot over within minutes of the start and Anthony Hibbert dragged an effort wide with ten played as the visitors dominated the opening exchanges before Jack Simpson was called into action with 20 on the clock, making a sharp reaction save from a volley 12 yards out.

Phil Johnson had the ball in the net after latching onto a Jacques header but the effort was disallowed for offside before Wanderers took the lead from the next phase of play as a quick throw led to a cross that James Duff nipped in ahead of Simpson to covert for 1-0.

The lead was short-lived, Gault equalising from the penalty spot six minutes later after Johnson was pulled back in the box with not even a yellow card being issued to the offending defender much to the surprise of everybody in attendance.

Disgust at that lack of punishment was compounded on the hour mark when Ashley Marsh was cautioned for an identical offence as the game became stretched with both sides pushing for a winner in the second half.

Jamie Hillwood thought he had one for Hassocks when his diving header met a Jacques cross only to be tipped behind superbly by the home goalkeeper before the decider did arrive with just seven minutes to go in the most direct route imaginable - Jack Simpson launching a long free kick forward that dropped over the defence with Gault volleying home left footed from the tightest of angles.

Hassocks: Simpson; South, Marsh, Pitcher, Davess; Hibbert, Jacques, Cooper, Hillwood; Johnson, Gault.

Subs: Ingham (Cooper 82), Maynard, Wallis, Bryant, Harris (unused).

Starman: Dan Jacques for a number of vital interceptions, good industry and decent delivery into the box.