Two goals in final five minutes sink Hassocks away to Moatsiders

But the Robins have found out on multiple occasions through their debut step four season how ruthless football at this level can be.

Heading back down the A23 with nothing to show for their efforts after shipping two late goals to be sunk by the Moatsiders was easily the toughest lesson of the lot.

Hassocks made an enterprising start rewarded by debutant Max Davidson firing them into a 13th minute lead. Harry Furnell won the Robins a corner which Merstham were unable to clear despite having a couple of bites of the cherry.

Central defender Ben Shroll found himself popping up on the right wing, delivering a magnificent cross for Furnell to head against the bar. The loose ball fell to Davidson, whose clinical volley was the perfect way to kick off his Hassocks career after signing in the week from Isthmian South Central side Bedfont Sports.

Shroll was soon proving his worth up the other end, making a last-gasp block from Louie Theophanous to deny a certain goal on the break.

The lively Theophanous ensured Shroll and Bradley Tighe were in for a busy afternoon. Just what Tighe would have wanted on his first league start of the season having agreed to help solve a centre back crisis with Dan Turner and Liam Hendy both injured.

Hassocks missed the trebuchet long throws of Turner but Jack Troak has clearly been doing some practice along with arm exercises in the gym. Everyone was caught by surprise when Troak launched a semi-long throw into the box. Not least the Merstham defence, who again looked unconvincing dealing with a set piece. The Furnell header at the end was this time easy for Moatsiders goalkeeper Max Foulkes to gather.

Merstham seemed buoyed by attacking a Church End terrace packed with home fans in the second half. A couple even removed their shirts despite this being the first sight of any real sun this year.

It was bright enough to force James Shaw into wearing a cap by the time his first save of the day arrived eight minutes after the break. A sublime first touch from Theophanous was followed by a square lay-off to Korrey Henry for a powerful drive blocked by Shaw flying from his line.

Theophanous then volleyed wide and Shaw needed to be alert when grabbing an Olu Lawal cross which took a deflection off Shroll.

The Robins came about as close you can get to scoring without the ball crossing the line on 81 minutes. Lewis Finney whipped a free kick delivery into the near post which was helped across the face of goal by Matt Daniel.

Somehow, Daniel’s flick avoided hitting any of the three Moatsiders players on the line or Foulkes and rebounding in for an own goal. It also evaded both the onrushing Morgan Vale and Tighe.

Three minutes later and Merstham equalised. No prizes are on offer for guessing the identity of the scorer. Hassocks thought they had done enough to snuff out Henry trying to work some space on the edge of the box from a dangerous Ollie Khinda pass. The loose ball though fell to Theophanous, who reacted quicker than anyone else to sidefoot past Shaw.

Then came the real kicker. The Moatsiders earned a free kick entering injury time after Ryan Healy was pushed to ground on the edge of the box. Up stepped home captain Matt Drage, bending an excellent effort straight it into the top corner with too much power for the hand of Shaw to keep out.

Drage celebrated by ambling straight to Shaw and screaming like a possessed banshee at the Hassocks keeper sitting on the floor - the pantomime ending earning Drage a booking for his troubles.

Hassocks: Shaw; Blake, Tighe, Shroll, Troak; Henry, Finney, Mundy, Davidson; Daniel; Furnell. Subs:Leahy (Mundy 67), Vale (Furnell 77), Bull (Henry 81), Benson (Daniel 88), Enticknap (unused).