High fives at Hassocks as YMCA find their scoring boots

Liam Hunter and Nick Sullivan bagged a brace apiece, whilst Farzad Bidgood netted his first goal for the club, as YM ran out convincing 5-2 winners at The Beacon.

The three points ensured Peter Buckland’s side kept to the word of their manager, who vowed that they would recover from recent losses, while they also rectified their recent poor form in front of goal.

Buckland said: “All things considered, the win is better than the result looked on paper.

“As expected, Hassocks were a good, young, athletic, well drilled side, and if they keep their squad together, they are really going to ruffle some feathers in Division 1.

“But once again, lady luck turned her back very firmly on us. We had to dig very deep into our experience and unity to grab the spoils.

“I came down here thinking I was well covered with a bench of four, but both Dean Carden and Matt Crane failed fitness tests against our anticipation.

“So once again we had to shuffle the formation last minute, resulting in players playing in unfamiliar roles, and of course leaving only two options on the bench.”

The visitors took the lead early in the first half through midfielder Hunter, before the Robins’ Jamie Hillwood grabbed an equaliser just before the half hour mark.

The scores didn’t remain level for long however, as Hunter doubled his tally for the afternoon eight minutes later to restore YM’s lead at the break.

Nick Sullivan extended Buckland’s side’s advantage to make it 3-1 shortly after the restart, before Hassocks’ Dan Jacques halved the deficit from the penalty spot shortly after.

YM proved too strong in the end though, as further efforts from substitute Bidgood and then Sullivan at the death, rounded off a vital 5-2 win.