Draw puts dent in Dockers title charge

Hassocks 2 Newhaven 2, SCFL Premier Division match #33

Two of the form teams in the SCFL Premier Division met at the Beacon this afternoon, in yet another vital game in Newhaven's season.

While a seven-match unbeaten run in the league (nine in all competitions) has propelled the Dockers right into the thick of the title picture, Hassocks’ form has also been not-too shabby in recent weeks.

Since losing 2-1 to Little Common in the middle of February, the Robins not tasted defeat in their following seven games. A run which has included a mightily impressive six clean sheets.

With a big crowd in attendance, partly aided no doubt by the annual Non-League Day celebrations, a tight game always seemed likely.

With Hassocks playing for little more than pride (at least in the league, they are still in one of the cups) and with the Dockers in desperate need of three-points to keep pressure on at the top, it was perhaps understandable that Newhaven started the match looking the nervier of the two sides.

Their cause wasn’t aided by the fact that, with a few players already missing for various reasons – Charlie Bennett, Ian Robinson, Demas Ramsis to name three – Lee Robinson then injured himself in the warm-up, meaning a less than 100 per cent fit Marcin Ruda was promoted to the starting line-up, thus leaving attacking options somewhat limited on the bench.

Robbo wasn’t the only casualty in the pre-match warm-up. An assistant referee also pulled up, meaning a Hassocks official had to don the flag instead. Kick-off was subsequently delayed by 15 minutes. To give him his due, the reluctant assistant did a fine job. Hats doffed to you, sir.

Newhaven started the match playing into a strong headwind. The gusty conditions made it hard for them to find any real rhythm. At times, it was nigh-on impossible for them to fully clear their lines, and equally difficult for the defenders to judge quite where the ball was going to land. Tricky indeed.

The hosts undoubtedly had the better of the earlier chances. The ball twice flashed across Jake Buss’ goal, only to drift wide each time without an onrushing striker being able to get on the end of it.

At the other end, the only real chance that Newhaven created in the opening 45 minutes was a tame effort from Tyler Scrafton, which was easily held by the Robins’ goalkeeper.

With the match entering injury time at the end of the first period, Newhaven would probably have been the happier of the two sides. They were not playing well – that’s an understatement – but given the windy conditions, going in level at the interval playing against the wind would have been far from a disaster.

You can probably guess what happened next!

After passing up a couple of chances to get the ball downfield, Bailie Rogers appeared to be clipped as he went to finally launch the ball forward. The referee waved play on and, with Rogers lying prone on the ground, Hassocks worked the ball around him before it arrived to Leon Turner who fired past Buss. The hosts were in the lead. It was deserved.

This wasn’t the first – or last – time a ref’s decision caused controversy during the afternoon. Some inconsistent decisions both ways could have seen both teams reduced in numbers. One moment yellow cards were being dished out like it was Christmas; the next arguably worse challenges (often by players who’d already received a caution) were going completely unpunished. It’s the sheer inconsistency that drives people mad!

Frustratingly (from our point of view_, the wind strength did seem to drop a bit just as the second half started. Sure, it was still gusty and very much in Newhaven’s favour – yet those gusts certainly seemed to become fewer and further between as the half progressed.

Nevertheless, the Dockers did start to see more of the ball in the early stages of the second-half than they had in the whole of the first. But, other than a half-chance for Scrafton, they were still struggling to create much from open play.

Indeed, it was no surprise that when an equaliser did arrive, it came from a set piece. In the 64th minute, Harry Reed was fouled down the right, and Lukas Franzen-Jones’ subsequent inviting delivery was met by the head of one of Newhaven’s two free-scoring centre backs, Henry Watson (although, in the interests of accuracy he was playing in midfield today). Game on.

Ten minutes later the game was completely turned on its head. Again, it came from a set-piece. No surprise there. Although, in fairness there was a huge slice of good fortune about the goal.

Franzen-Jones’ free-kick was overhit, got caught in one of the now infrequent strong gusts of wind, and sailed over the head of the helpless Hassocks keeper.

It was barely deserved. But at this stage of the season, it doesn’t need to be deserved. Results are the key thing. No matter how they come.

With an already scrappy game becoming increasingly more so (I feel sorry for anyone who had to count the number of free-kicks dished out over the course of 90-minutes - there were a lot!), the Dockers were now looking comfortable enough. 

Don’t misunderstand me. It’s not like they were dominating. They weren’t. But Hassocks hadn’t really created any chances of note since their goal at the end of the first half.

Yet, we can all guess what happened next. From Hassocks’ first real opportunity of the half, they equalised. 

Newhaven were adamant that they should have had a throw-in deep in Hassocks territory. The decision went the other way, Newhaven failed to reset themselves and Liam Benson outpaced the backline before finishing calmly past Buss.

Within a minute, things almost got far worse for Newhaven. Pushing forward to try and regain the lead, Hassocks broke down the right before squaring the ball to an unmarked Turner at the back post.

However, just as it seemed as though the net was sure to bulge, Buss pulled off an absolutely worldy save to keep the scores level. His one at Broadbridge Heath a couple of weeks ago had to be seen to be believed. This was another one that gets firmly placed into that category. It may have been even better.

With the game almost in injury time, Watson nearly won it for the Dockers with an effort from distance – just as he so nearly had against Heath in the aforementioned match. On that occasion the ball rattled the bar, this time it flew literally inches past the post.

In injury time, I’ll be honest, I have no idea what went on. An altercation on the far touchline from where I was standing seemed to culminate with Rogers being struck by a Hassocks player. The outcome? A sin-bin for the somewhat bemused Rogers. Presumably for voicing too forcefully his frustrations to the ref. Newhaven down to ten.

Then, when a soft free-kick was awarded to the hosts from a Newhaven corner, Franzen-Jones said something that saw him follow his teammate into the sinbin. Newhaven down to nine.

To further add insult to injury, with time all but up, Newhaven won a corner only for the ref to declare the match over before they had a chance to take it. 

Look, I know in theory that when time’s up it’s up, but... how often do you see the final whistle blown in such circumstances. It’s that consistency thing again, right?

Ultimately, the truth is that neither side did enough to win what was a scrappy game short on quality. A draw was probably a fair result; albeit one welcomed much more warmly by the hosts that the visitors.

Having scrapped into the lead despite being far from their best, Newhaven will undoubtedly feel hugely frustrated to have not gotten over the line. But that’s football!

With Broadbridge Heath and Crawley Down both picking up narrow victories, Newhaven are once again hugely reliant on other teams doing them a favour (more than one, in fact), over the closing weeks of the season.

Yet, I remain convinced that there are still more twists and turns to come. The title/promotion dream isn’t over yet!

It’s off to Horsham next week for a match against Horsham YMCA – a side languishing near the foot of the form table. Three points are now essential; your support equally so.

Let’s keep the belief going and get behind the lads right till the very end!

Come On You Dockers!

My man of the match (aka, the controversial part): Henry Watson. Just ridiculously consistent whatever position he plays in. Scored a vital goal (again). Nearly won it with a powerful long-range effort (again). Won practically every header and tackle he contested (again). A top player!