Hassocks v Storrington Community
FA Vase First Qualifying Round
My opening game in this season’s FA Vase and the longest journey of 24/25 so far. When I started this project two years ago my first FA Vase game was a trip to Chessington to see them play Hassocks, a team I knew little about at the time. I had such a good time chatting with the away supporters that I vowed to visit Hassocks in the future.
Unfortunately, rail and weather problems had thwarted my attempts until this weekend when ironically the weather again tried its best to intervene with huge downpours all morning. Luckily Hassocks have put a lot of work into the pitch so finally it looked like I was going to be able to make one of their fixtures.
The journey down was uneventful which was surprising considering the amount of rain overnight and all morning, although I did have my customary delay going through Gatwick airport. The ground is a short ten minute walk from the station, or 15-20 if like me you take the wrong turning and head into the town!
I reached the ground after my little detour around 2pm, and after a brief chat and nice welcome from Patrick, Hassocks chairman and part time car park attendant, I paid the £8 adult entry and £1 for a decent printed programme. Next it was into the clubhouse to take brief shelter from the rain still belting down outside and to meet and chat with the lovely lady behind the bar and try a Thatchers Cloudy Lemon cider.
Next up it was burger time from a nice little kitchen inside the club house, I had a very tasty quarter pounder with cheese and bacon for £5.50 and settled down to refuel after the long journey. Note: I’ve been told the sausage rolls are very good so if you go there let me know what you think!
I then had a good chat with Owen, one of the supporters I’d met at Chessington and learnt more about the club and how they are working on how to improve the matchday experience at Hassocks which is always good to hear. Owen is also involved in the social media side there and it would have been him answering all my frantic DM’s on whether the game was going ahead all morning!
Hassocks, from the Southern Combination Premier, a league above their visitors, were hot favourites for this tie, especially with the visitors having a few injury issues at this early point of the season.
So a wander to reach the stand on the far side and the game kicked off in an absolute deluge of rain. The game started pretty evenly with the first real talking point being a questionable decision from the official. A move down the right flank was crossed into the area but blocked by a Hassocks defender, the linesman flagged for a hand ball but the referee waved away all the appeals without even speaking to his assistant.
From the clearance the hosts nearly went ahead, a good run and cross from Alex Fair down the left wing found Alfie Loversidge’s run, his lunge to get to the ball before the defender and keeper rattling against the crossbar and rebounding to safety.
Loversidge was involved again shortly after when his shot was superbly saved at point blank range by Harrison Mott in the Storrington goal.
Finally the rain began to relent and the home side started taking control of the game with both full backs Harvey Blake and Joe Bull overlapping well and throwing in some dangerous crosses.
The visitors first decent chance came following a powerful run by Tommy Charlwood from inside his own half, he chipped a pass through to Ethan Roberts which Hassocks keeper Jordan Brown blocked well only for the ball to fall for Matt Hards whose shot was blocked away for a corner by the defence.
Next another contentious moment, a decent move from the hosts down the right was blocked away for a corner but with the referees’ assistant flagging for an offside in the attack. The referee again overruled his assistant, giving the corner. An inswinging corner into the six yard box was met by an unmarked Fair who headed past Mott. 1-0
Hassocks were now pressing and won three corners on the trot which were well dealt with by the Swans defence. Loversidge hit a speculative shot from distance which sailed well wide. The home side did take advantage of the next corner they won with a well worked set piece. A Bull pull back to the edge of the area was flicked on by Morgan Vale with Will Berry firing in at the far post to double the lead. 2-0
A lovely turn from Vale on the edge of the area made space for himself but his shot could only find the outside of the post and the side netting. Storrington showed they were still in this with a quick break and low shot from Roberts which was well saved by Brown to his left.
H-T: Hassocks 2 Storrington Community 0
The Robins started the second half on the front foot with an acrobatic effort from Vale just clearing the crossbar. Minutes later a swift attack from the visitors led to a Hards drive being parried away from goal by Brown, picked up by Roberts at the far post whose effort was saved again by Brown diving to his right.
Hassocks increased their lead shortly after, a lovely turn in the box briefly giving Loversidge space which was quickly shut down but from the byline he knocked it back to Tom Frankland whose first time cross was headed home by Josh Mundy. A good effort as the ball was just behind him and he had to stoop low to head in. 3-0
By now the game was being played in bright sunshine (only in the UK, right?) and had the home side searching for more goals. A nice run across the pitch by substitute Joe Overy played in Frankland but his shot just fizzed wide of the post.
A great run from the halfway line into the box from captain Blake ended with him being hauled down with the referee pointing to the spot. Cavan Chedzey stepped up and fired past Mott to make it four. 4-0
The visitors were now starting to look tired and conceded a fifth following a nice run from Oscar Kemp, his ball out to the left flank was hit across the six yard box by Bull and finished nicely by Ruari Farrell. 5-0
Soon after Farrell made a good run down the right and got a shot away which Mott got down quickly to turn the ball wide. Farrell wasn’t to be denied though, Overy finding Kemp out wide and his cross picked out Farrell who headed into the top corner unchallenged. 6-0
F-T: Hassocks 6 Storrington Community 0
A good game of football considering the conditions in which both teams played their part. Hassocks look a good side, totally deserved the win and always look a danger from the flanks while Storrington gave everything, made a few decent chances but just couldn’t find a finish.
I really enjoyed my visit to Hassocks, a friendly, welcoming club looking to do things the right way. Many thanks to everyone involved for making me feel so welcome and for your hospitality. I will be back, maybe in another two years or maybe sooner, just not when we have a monsoon next time!
Best of luck to Hassocks in the next round and to both clubs for the rest of the season.