Rare win at Culver Road banishes Robins' Lancing demons and books Peter Bentley Cup quarter final spot

James Westlake described Hassocks as terrible on their Southern Combination Premier Division visit to Lancing 17 days ago when the Robins collapsed from 1-0 up on 87 minutes to lose 3-1.

Their mission returning to the GoCardless Stadium in the Peter Bentley League Cup a little over two weeks later was therefore clear. Come away with victory in whatever manner possible from a place where no Hassocks side had won in their past 11 visits stretching all the way back to September 2004 and a 6-2 success in this same competition.

Goals from corners scored by centre back pairing Dan Turner and Liam Hendy got the job done in a gritty 2-1 victory. Hardly a classic but the Robins will not care given what happened last time and their woeful record at Culver Road over the past 22 years. Their reward is a home quarter final against Lingfield.

Hassocks had the better first half chances only to be frustrated by the woodwork and Lancers goalkeeper Elliot Dailly. Lewis Finney shot too high with the first real opportunity on 25 minutes before Dailly made a smart save with his legs to deny Lewis Croal from close range.

Jack Troak has not taken many free kicks for the Robins in the past but he has surely jumped up the pecking order after rattling the bar with a brilliant curling effort from 25 yards.

The rebound fell kindly for tall striker Jamie Wilkes, whose header towards the bottom corner was clawed out by the sprawling Dailly.

Five minutes before the break saw Dailly make his best save of the night. Raging Joe Bull crossed for Darren Budd to produce a superb first touch and layoff to Troak.

Dailly could only have seen Troak's powerful drive late as it came at him between Scott Packer and Dylan Hurst. Somehow, Dailly managed to react and touch the shot from Troak onto the post.

The first 25 minutes of the second half were a non-event. Lancing tightened up defensively to stifle Hassocks going forward, meaning there was no repeat of the opportunities the Robins had managed to muster during the opening 45. And with the Lancers showing little inclination to attack themselves, it all became rather tedious.

Attention amongst the away contingent gathered behind the goal strayed so far as to wonder why Hassocks chairman Pat Harding was wearing a pair of leather gloves which looked like they should belong to a Spitfire pilot.

Rather aptly, it was a Robin currently sporting a delightful World War II moustache who fired Hassocks ahead on 72 minutes as Hendy breathed new and much-needed life into the tie.

Finney released substitute Joe Turner with a lovely through ball down the right channel. Turner made his way to the by-line to deliver a cross blocked behind by Packer.

The resulting corner was taken by Finney. Packer could only half clear to Hendy, who drilled a clinical shot into the bottom corner.

Celebrations were somewhat muted, probably because Hendy made over 250 appearances for Lancing during 10 years at Culver Road earlier in his career.

Hendy and Lancing have history in the Peter Bentley Cup too; he netted the opening goal in the 2016 final when the Lancers beat Newhaven 2-1 to lift the trophy for the first and so far only time.

Falling behind meant Lancing had to become more positive in an attempt to get back into the game. Gabriel Robinson should have done better after Dan Turner failed to deal with an Archie McGonigle clip over the top. Robinson could only put a weak one-on-one effort a long way wide.

Ed Cooper then almost got caught out by a long Alek Amissah pass forward. Hendy ducked out of a header, allowing the pass to travel all the way back to Cooper.

All looked fine until Cooper charged outside his box and only realised he had gone too far as the ball zipped past him. In the end, Cooper did well to chase back towards his goal and throw himself on top of the ball just before Antoine Sharpe beat him to it.

With the Lancers stirring, this had shades of the league game when Hassocks were monumentally punished for not getting a second goal. Over to Dan Turner to provide one on this occasion with 13 minutes remaining.

Finney looped another fine corner delivery towards the far post. Troak won a towering header back across goal which Turner met with a technically excellent volley. Dailly got a hand to it but there was far too much power in the shot for him to keep it out.

The two-goal cushion lasted only four minutes as Lancing pulled one back with a really well-worked move to set up a nervous finale.

McGonigle kicked things off deep inside the Lancers half. Mo Khedidji and Robinson combined to return the ball to McGonigle, now breaking down the left beyond the Hassocks backline.

His square pass across the edge of the box tempted Cooper from his line. Sharpe got their first, going around Cooper and firing into the unguarded net.

Now thoughts amongst the travelling support really did flash back 17 days. Hassocks though showed themselves in no mood for a repeat and it was in fact the Robins who looked the more likely scorers in the final 10.

Troak bent another free kick on target and also fired a shot a long way over after being teed up by Omar Abdsami. The only moment of alarm at the other end came when Dylan Walter crossed from the right but Cooper averted any danger by making a diving punch clear.

Hassocks: Cooper; Bonwick-Adams, D Turner, Hendy, Bull; Wilkes, Budd; Fender, Finney, Troak; Croal.

Subs: Benson, Turner, Abdsami, Blake (used), Bromage (unused).