Robins' remarkable recovery from 3-1 down earns priceless victory over VCD
At the midway point of their vital Isthmian South East relegation battle clash with VCD Athletic, Hassocks were heading for a record of three defeats from three home matches against the three clubs below them in the table.
The Vickers led 3-1 going into the break, seemingly on course to follow in the footsteps of East Grinstead Town and Beckenham Town - both of whom have won at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground this season. What followed in the second half, however, was extraordinary. The Robins rallied to deliver an almighty comeback, scoring three goals in 10 minutes for a 4-3 victory.
The tone was set for a chaotic afternoon when the teams walked onto the pitch ahead of kick off.
Hassocks were joined by 30 mascots from the club’s junior section, meaning each Robins player had three hyped-up eight-year-olds to try to keep under control. It was a fantastic sight to behold; especially when six of the youngsters looked like they were going to make a break for it through a gap between James Shaw and Raging Joe Bull.
Less fantastic was watching VCD score twice in 120 seconds midway through the first half.
The opener arrived with 24 minutes played. Tade Ibrahim worked the ball into the box towards Harry Lawrence. His knock down was tapped home by former Herne Bay manager Liam Friend for his first goal since joining the Vickers.
Ibrahim scored the second on 26. He won a long aerial launch forward and Cameron Andrews picked up the second ball. Andrews worked possession to Alfred Evans, who split the Hassocks defence with alarming ease to put Ibrahim in for a one-on-one finished past Shaw.
The Robins momentarily found some composure when pulling one back in the 34th minute. Shaw kicked from his hands to pick out the run of Liam Benson with a fine piece of distribution. Benson lifted a clever volley over both VCD centre back Ben Fitchett and goalkeeper Mason Whitnell to finish from a difficult position on the left-hand side of the box.
Zack Henry struck a volley held by Fitchett but that was the end of the brief Hassocks period of promise as the Vickers restored their two goal advantage on 41 minutes. Ibrahim crossed again and Erza Ikebuasi arrived unmarked this time from the opposite flank to head back into the box. Evans slotted home from close range to punish more shambolic defending.
Early in the second half the Robins could not quite force the ball over the line in an almighty goalmouth scramble when Ben Shroll headed a Josh Mundy free kick into the six-yard box.
Hassocks clearly meant business. They did not have to wait long for the goal which started the fightback. Bradley Tighe launched in a long throw to spark a series of headers. Scott Faber flicked onto Shroll who flicked onto Lewis Finney who headed into the bottom corner.
That was on 54 minutes. Five minutes later and Jack Troak equalised. VCD were adamant Hassocks should have been awarded a throw rather than a corner which Finney fired across the whole box.
Shroll retrieved the ball on the opposite side, from where he was able to showcase his ridiculously good crossing ability for a central defender after turning Fitchett. Troak was the recipient, heading the ball from Shroll hung up onto the penalty spot out of reach of Whitnell.
Another five minutes on and Troak grabbed his second of the afternoon for what proved to be the winner.
The Vickers got in a mess playing out from the back, succeeding only in giving Mundy possession. He lofted a ball forward to Benson, whose flick on was brought under in a brilliant piece of control from Troak which also allowed him to escape Fitchett. Troak now had only Whitnell to beat - and he made doing so look easy, coolly picking out the bottom corner.
The final 25 minutes were rather serene in comparison. Henry hit a post and Shaw easily saved from Friend as Hassocks saw things out comfortably for a result with potentially massive implications both points wise and psychologically in the fight to avoid the drop.