Hassocks 0 Ringmer 1

22/01/08

Match Report by David Ruffles

 

Games between these two sides are invariably close encounters and this John O’Hara League Challenge Cup quarter final match was no exception. The tie was eventually settled in Ringmer’s favour with one moment of pure magic. Ringmer will now meet East Grinstead Town in the semi finals.

 

The tone of the match was set by the fast and open beginning as both sides made full use of the width of the pitch. Hassocks had the better of the exchanges in the first half with the pace and height of Laurence Robinson posing a constant threat. However, Ryan MacMillan and Steve Hunt were in dominant mood in the Blues defence so clear chances were few. Nevertheless Ringmer had keeper Joe Adams to thank for keeping the game goal-less at half time with two exceptional saves. First when he tipped a shot from Ashley Marsh over the bar and then when he was a full stretch to keep out a shot from Jamie Ingham.

 

It was Ringmer’s turn to dominate proceedings in the second half with the MacMillan brothers both close to give the Blues the lead. However it was not until the seventy fifth minute that a goal finally came. The creative genius that is Luke Gedling received the ball wide on the left just inside the Hassocks half and spotted the Leagues leading goal scorer, Marc Whiteman, making strides down the right wing and his inch perfect cross field ball was matched by a superb first time strike from just outside the penalty area by Whiteman which sent the ball flying out of reach of keeper Joel Harding and into the bottom corner of the net - a clear candidate for goal of the season and one that certainly deserved to win the match. Hassocks pressed forward in search of a goal but struggled to penetrate the Blues resolute defence. When they did Joe Adams again denied Ingham with a diving save and in so doing kept his first clean sheet since early October.

 

 

 

No	Players.Name....	Substitution ...,,	Goals	Remarks
1	Joe Adams	.	-	-
2	Dan Evans	.	.	.
3	Dave Soutar	.	.	.
4	Danny McLaughlin	Elliott Finney	.	.
5	Ryan MacMillan	.	.	.
6	Steve Hunt	.	.	.
7	Mark Price	Aaron MacMillan	.	.
8	Luke Gedling	.	.	.
9	Mark Whiteman	.	1	75
10	Joe Dryer	.	.	.
11	Nick Barden	Jack Johnson	.	(C)
SUBSTITUTES		-	-	-
12	Aaron MacMillan	Used	.	.
14	Miles Scerri	Not UsedUsed	.	.
15	Jack Johnson	Used	.	.
16	Elliott Finney	Used	.	-
17	Ryan Betsworth	Not Used	.	.
.	.	.	.	.
OFF FIELD
Manager		Steve Johnson
Assistant Manager		Paul Thomsett
Sports Therapist		Ian Fairs
OFFICIALS
Referee		Gary Croft
Assistant 1		David Barden
Assistant 2		Ken Brook
Attendance		90