Second time in six days that Robins come home from Common with victory under their wings

Another midweek trip to Little Common Recreation Ground, another win for Hassocks. Six days after the Robins defeated Bexhill United here in the Sussex Senior Cup, they added a 3-1 win over Common themselves to move up to third in the Southern Combination Premier Division standings.

All the goals came in the second half and although Common are bottom of the table, the threadbare look of the Hassocks side made this a fine three points.

Big Alex Fair, Liam Hendy and Bradley Tighe were all missing from the starting XI who eliminated Abbey Rangers from the FA Vase on penalties at the weekend – adding to the Robins’ already extensive unavailability list.

James Westlake was also absent because of holiday, meaning brother Lewis took charge for the first time. It was a seamless temporary transition from one Westlake to another, ably assisted by coaches Jordan Wilson and Dickie Fernley.

With Dan Turner the only selectable central defender, Hassocks once again went with a makeshift back three by lining him up alongside Harvey Blake and Jack Troak.

Although with Blake and Troak currently fulfilling centre back roles more often than not, we will probably have to stop referring to this defence as makeshift soon.

Indeed, more unusual than Blake and Troak in the middle was the Robins wearing their lesser-spotted yellow away kit. Blake in the number four shirt and Jamie Wilkes sporting the six were other unnerving breaks from the norm.

Chances were few and far between during the goalless first half. Hassocks had the lion’s share of possession but Common were disciplined and organised sitting very deep with their defence expertly marshalled by veteran player-manager Russell Eldridge.

The importance of Eldridge made it particularly galling for the Robins that he was not sent off after 25 minutes. Having already made one superbly timed sliding tackle on Lewis Croal to deny a certain goal, Eldridge tried to repeat the trick when last-man as Wilkes galloped clear.

He got this one all wrong, however, tripping Wilkes on the edge of the box to stop the tall striker going one-on-one with Common goalkeeper Fletcher Chapman.

Incredibly, referee Greig Walker showed Eldridge yellow rather than red based on there apparently being plenty of defensive cover. An interesting definition of the word plenty.

Turner drilled the subsequent free kick powerfully around the wall, forcing Chapman into an excellent save. It was the only real piece of work Chapman had to do in the first half.

Other Hassocks half-chances were all off target. Omar Abdsami and Ethan Brasier linked up well from a short corner routine, leading the latter to bend an effort searching for the top corner from outside the box just wide.

Brasier then delivered a cross from the left wing just before the break. It evaded Croal on its way to finding Abdsami at the back post for a volley a little too high.

Ed Cooper was even less employed during the opening 45 minutes than Chapman. Common fashioned a single opportunity when the woodwork denied Sam Ellis on 37 minutes.

An attempted pass from Turner to Blake got caught in the long grass, allowing Ellis to advance and hit a shot which clipped the cross bar.

Hassocks started the second half strongly. Abdsami and Devon Fender were denied by routine saves from Chapman within five minutes of the restart before a scrappy goal ended up giving the Robins the lead.

Abdsami floated a corner towards the penalty spot. The rangy Wilkes completely missed his header, the ball hit a tumbling Troak in the chest and looked like it was going to roll over the line when Croal provided a final touch just to be sure.

Croal clearly likes this part of the world as he scored the only goal last week against Bexhill and in the exact same 53rd minute. He soon had an assist for his Little Common collection when brilliantly teeing up Wilkes to double the lead on the hour.

Brasier tackled Ellis 20 yards inside the Hassocks half to begin a lightning quick break in company with Abdsami.

Croal still had plenty to do when Brasier clipped him in behind the Common backline, drawing Chapman and then cleverly holding the ball up despite the attentions of the recovering Eldridge.

After waiting patiently for help to arrive, Croal slipped a perfect sideways pass into the path of the onrushing Wilkes who finished first time without breaking stride.

Common did their best to keep things interesting by puling one back just three minutes later. Blake was unable to convincingly clear a Joe Clifford cross and Oli McDonald picked up the pieces with a decent strike from the edge of the box.

The home side took visible confidence from getting on the scoresheet and almost equalised on 70 minutes. Ellis shrugged off the attentions of Blake and Wilkes to feed a pass out to Clifford on the right flank.

Despite the angle being tight, Clifford went for goal. He was nearly rewarded for his boldness with his shot cannoning into the upright whilst Cooper remained rooted to the spot.

Hassocks woke up after that let-off to reassert their dominance. Charlie Bonwick-Adams popped up in the box to shoot inches wide after being teed up Fender with 75 on the clock.

Eldridge then brought down Lewis Finney inside the area in similar circumstances to that first half incident with Wilkes.

Even more remarkable than Mr Walker deeming the earlier offence worthy of just a yellow was that no card at all came out for this one, ensuring Common finished with 11 men and denying the Robins a clear penalty.

The Hassocks bench made their displeasure over the decision known to Mr Walker. One home supporter responded by standing behind the away dugout and making sheep noises at Westlake. Not something you see or hear every day.

His bleating soon stopped when the Robins put the game to bed with a killer third goal on 86 minutes.

Substitute Charlie Martin chased down a lost cause which Kieran Ludlow was trying to shepherd from play, winning the ball and then superbly back heeling it against the Common defender to earn a corner.

Abdsami looped another dangerous delivery into the box for Turner to rise highest and head home his fourth goal of the season.

A successful evening all round then for Hassocks with chairman Pat Harding even going home with a tin of Quality Street from the raffle. To which he definitely did not say “Great, it’s my wife’s birthday soon,” when receiving the prize at half time.

Hassocks: Cooper; Blake, D Turner, Troak; Bonwick-Adams, Abdsami, Wilkes, Finney, Brasier; Fender, Croal.

Subs: Martin, J Turner, Farrell, Richardson, Wickwar (used).

Starman: Lewis Croal loves a trip to Little Common. Goal and an assist for the hardworking striker.