Hassocks come from behind to beat Lancing

The Lancers are in a real battle for survival at the bottom of Division One following the controversial deduction of six points for playing goalkeeper James Shaw without international clearance and the least they deserved from this encounter was a draw.

But credit the Robins for riding their luck and taking advantage of two opportunities that the visiting management felt they were handed by the referee to take a vital three points in the battle for second place at the opposite end of the table.

Chances were few and far between in the first half with former Burgess Hill man Jonno Melia drawing the only real save from either goalkeeper when young Max Collins between the Hassocks sticks kept out his header from a corner.

Lancing came flying out of the blocks in the second period and went ahead just three minutes after the restart when midfielder Alex Spinks - who had a brief spell at the Beacon earlier in the campaign – fired in a well hit shot from the edge of the box that beat Collins.

With Hassocks never really looking like scoring, the visitors could have added to their lead when Owen Callaghan was bundled over in the area and then Melia took a tumble in the box but both penalty appeals were given short shrift by referee Theo Parfitt.

That it was from the spot that the Hassocks equaliser arrived did little to improve the visitors mood, a speculative punt over the top saw keeper Darren Ford and his defender do their best Chuckle Brothers impression with Mark Price taking advantage of the confusion only to be tripped by Ford.

The goalkeeper received a booking for his troubles as the imperious Gault stepped up and dispatched the spot kick with aplomb to score his 12th goal in seven games.

To rub salt into the wounds, Mr Parfitt played a key role in the winner that came five minutes from time when he waved away visiting appeals for a foul on Josh Spinks as the defender attempted to clear his lines with the lose ball being sent back into the box where Gault was on hand to head down for O’Callaghan to scuff home.

Lancing pushed forward in the final stages in a desperate bid for the equaliser that their performance warranted but they were kept at bay by a solid defensive showing.

The result wasn’t the only good news for Hassocks either as they were given a timely boost for the run-in with the return from injury of striker Nathan Miles who appeared off the bench for his first appearance in five months.

Hassocks: Collins; South, Marsh, Pitcher, Davess; Johnson, Price, O’Callaghan, N Cooper, Jacques; Gault.

Subs: Ingham, Czech, Miles (used).