Hassocks come up against (Little) Common problem
Hassocks 1 Little Common 2 SCFL premier Unfortunately for Hassocks, it turns out that what goes around really does comes around.
Eleven days after a 94th minute Phil Johnson winner completed a smash-and-grab raid on Roffey, the Robins were themselves the victims of a ‘robbery’.
Sam Cruttwell struck in the 100th minute with virtually the final kick to give Little Common a 2-1 win at the Beacon.
Hassocks were also left cursing Common’s other Cruttwell, goalkeeper Matt, who pulled off a string of excellent saves over the 90 minutes.
Combine those interventions with some heroic defending and several other gilt-edged opportunities missed and the Robins’ wait for a first Premier Division victory against Common goes on.
The tone for a frustrating afternoon for Hassocks was set within a couple of minutes of kick off.
Leon Turner fed Jack Troak on the overlap and when his low cross was only half cleared by Common player-manager Russell Eldridge, the ball fell invitingly to Pat Harding.
The veteran striker hit a powerful drive which looked destined for the top corner until Cruttwell sprung to turn it around the post at full stretch.
Common took the lead shortly after. A clipped ball up the left channel got Sam Ellis to the by-line but when his cross was too deep, it looked as though the danger had passed.
Freddie Warren though had other ideas. Warren collected possession on the right and returned into the box where Ellis had ghosted in at the far post to volley past James Shaw.
The Robins began to reassert themselves largely through the probing runs of Troak down the left and Hassocks finally had a legal goal on 59 minutes. James Westlake drilled a ball over the top which Phil Johnson latched onto, brought down expertly and beat Cruttwell to level the tie.
Then came that sucker punch right at the death. Common earned a free kick 28 yards out and not to be outdone by Matt, Sam Cruttwell stepped up to drill the ball under the wall and into the net.
- SCOTT MCCARTHY