After a few long trips in recent weeks staying in Sussex was the aim as the temperatures start to bite as November has run it’s course, plus arriving home before midnight on a school night was a welcome change.
Gaz and I had mooted taking in Worthing vs Littlehampton Town in the Sussex Senior Cup until I noticed instead in the Southern Combination Premier Division Steyning Town taking on Hassocks in a top six clash.
The Barrowmen have enjoyed some fine results so far this season, notably knocking Brighton Under 23’s of the Senior Cup and also taking on Maidstone Utd in the FA Cup earlier in the campaign and with a few games in hand are well in the mix at the right end of the table.
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Their visitors are also in the thick of the promotion mix and after seeing Newhaven defeat the hosts at the weekend the Robins were hopeful themselves of picking up a further three points in their quest to hit the Isthmian League.
A mild evening greeted those in attendance although the temperatures were to drop through the night as the evening progressed, better that than the rain we’ve been accustomed to over the last few weeks.
The home side were the brighter of the opening exchanges, playing their usual pattern of passing football, Hassocks finding they couldn’t make inroads when they did get the ball.
Against the run of play the Robins opened the scoring on 15 minutes, a cross headed down found Josh Nandhra to tap in at the far post. Hassocks should have doubled the lead straight after, Steyning clearly shocked at going behind and a huge let-off for the home team.
They were the next to score but correctly chalked off for offside, the game then after swinging firmly in the favour of Hassocks, the evergreen Pat Harding with a scrappy finish to double the visitors lead and the home side two behind before the half hour mark.
Undeterred Steyning came back and reduced the deficit seven minutes before half time, Sam Remfry cut in from the right hand side and squeezed the ball in between post and the diving Fraser Trigwell, but a half time lead for the visitors.
Whatever Kevin Green said to his Steyning players at half time certainly saw them come out with the bit between their teeth and went after their opponents at every opportunity. They went close through Joe Radley Martin hitting the bar, but they were rewarded for their positive play just before the hour, Jack Williamson rose highest to head home a corner to restore parity and set up a grandstand last half hour.
That goal seemed to liven up the Robins once again and the game began to swing back their way once again, Steyning unable to make the ball stick in the final third and they paid the price for that as Hassocks re-took the lead on 70 minutes.
A little bit of pinball in the penalty area saw the ball arrive at the feet of Alex Bygraves at the back post and a simple tap in put the visitors back in front but still enough time for more goals.
Hassocks managed to close the game out, tempers getting a little frayed just before the end, the visitors taking the three points and Steyning left to reflect on successive defeats to promotion rivals.
The win puts the Robins a point behind leaders Crowborough Athletic but having played a game more, whilst one win in the last five games for the Barrowmen leaves them in 7th place but with two games in hand on the leaders and two points off a play-off place.
A superb advert for Step 5 football and the Southern Combination, both sides played some really good stuff throughout the game and there was no surprise five goals were shared.
The three points certainly could have gone either way and no doubt Steyning will play worse than that over the rest of the season and come away with the win. With so much football still to play it looks like the top nine will have a say in the final positions of the top five but of course the opportunity remains for someone lower to get together a really good run to fill that final play-off spot.
