Hassocks 30 seconds from finishing Faversham's 29-game unbeaten run
Just 30 seconds were all that separated Hassocks from becoming the first team to defeat Faversham Town in 29 league matches stretching all the way back to January 25th.
It is an unbeaten run which carried the Lilywhites to the Southern Counties East League title last season. And with it continuing into Isthmian South East in the current campaign, many expect Faversham to secure back-to-back promotions.
Which is almost certainly the aim for a club with ambitious plans to push a lot further up the pyramid than step four - and a budget to match. A 1-1 draw at the Aquatherm Stadium therefore represented another fantastic result for the Robins. Even with the manner in which it finished.
Six minutes of injury time were indicated. It was in the seventh of the six that Faversham found an equaliser. The Robins goal had been living a charmed life for quite a while when Raging Joe Bull made an outrageous acrobatic clearance off the line.
It was not quite enough for Hassocks to survive. The Lilywhites recycled the ball from right to left. Jack Parter crossed and Matt Gunn headed a cruel own goal into the bottom corner.
In fairness to the questionable timekeeping, even Hassocks fans were bemused at only six minutes being added. Nobody would have batted an eyelid had the board shown eight or nine.
There were stoppages for various genuine injuries, understandable gamesmanship from the Robins and the ball flying out of play frequently because of a strong wind blowing across the pitch.
Said wind meant clearcut chances were few and far between. Faversham dominated the possession count but that was largely by stroking passes around in their half of the pitch.
When it came to finding a way through the organised 4-5-1 of Hassocks, the only answer the Lilywhites seemed to have in the first half at least was to go long after completing 10 passes between their defenders.
Maybe the home side would have taken a less agricultural approach had 20 goal top scorer Tashi-Jay Kwayie been playing. Kwayie was apparently in Milan on a modelling assignment. Not the sort of availability issue James Westlake has to contend with amongst his Hassocks squad.
Faversham being direct suited the Robins. Hassocks won everything in the air, with Bull and Liam Hendy on his return after five weeks out injured particularly impervious.
Hendy took over from Dan Turner; although the spirit of Turner lived on through Lilywhites right back Bradley Simms and a long throw every bit as potent as the Robins defender.
Simms ensured Hassocks had a taste of their own medicine, tossing the ball 40 yards into the box on nine occasions. It looked the most likely route to goal for the hosts in the opening 45; most notably when Shaw showed good reactions to pluck a Matt Newman header out the air.
Whilst Faversham had plenty of set pieces and pop shots, it was the Robins with the better opportunities in the first half. Jack Troak lifted a one-on-one over Lilywhites goalkeeper Roshan Greensall. The effort though lacked power, allowing Harrison Pont to cover round and clear.
Greensall managed to turn a Zack Henry shot from 25 yards over the bar at full stretch which the wind moved all over the place
Henry then fired over a Troak cutback and Newman came flying in from nowhere to deny Morgan Vale. Greensall asked if the block were intentional, to which Newman replied: "I've no idea what happened."
The second half was just 24 seconds old when Hassocks stunned the home crowd by taking the lead. Dan Allen dinked a ball into the box which Vale latched onto and nodded beyond Greenshall.
There were virtually no chances for the Robins from that point on as Faversham laid siege to the Hassocks goal. Hendy, Gunn and Troak all pulled off magnificent last-ditch blocks. Numerous chances for the Lilywhites were put comfortably close to Shaw or scuffed wide.
The pressure though eventually told right at the death. Heartbreak for Hassocks. But in the cold light of day, another well earned point towards survival - one the travelling Robins would have bitten off not so much a hand as an entire arm off for prior to kick off.
On Saturday, Hassocks were beaten 2-0 at home to Jersey Bulls, Lorne Bickley’s double downing the Robins.
They are on the road again next Tuesday – to AFC Croydon.