Broadbridge Heath leave Gatwick grounded – Hassocks beaten in league and cup

Crawley Down Gatwick 2 Broadbridge Heath 4 – SCFL premier

Heath manager Chris Simmons was able to welcome back Jack Frankland, Andy Waddingham, Matt Penfold and Renato Carvalho to his starting line-up for the trip the Haven but he was without Sean Terry, Ryan Brackpool and Louis Evans all joining a long list of players unavailable for one reason or another.

But despite that the team got off to an excellent start scoring their first in the 2nd minute, when Sam Lemon played a 1-2 with Lewis Croal on the edge of the box and finished with a left foot shot across the keeper and in at the far right post.

The hosts equalised on 11 minutes when a cross from the right was turned in from close range by Sammy Clements and to make things worse, they lost their Captain Waddingham to another injury and gradually the hosts got on top creating several chances but unable to beat the young Heath keeper Jasper Sheik who was forced to make some really good saves to keep the score level.

Just before the break and against the run of play a Crawley Down move broke down with Carvalho winning the ball on the halfway line, a quick interchange of passes between Penfold and Croal saw Jack Frankland sneak up unmarked on the right flank and the defender took his time to advance on goal and place his right foot shot wide of the keeper and in at the bottom right corner, so 2-1 to the Bears at the break but somewhat fortunate to be ahead at that stage.

After strong words in the changing room at half-time, Mason Doughty came off the bench having missed the last three games through injury and he immediately started to cause the home defence problems with his close ball control and pace down the right flank.

The striker was involved in the third when a long ball from Kyle Sim was brought under control by Doughty who drove down the right before crossing to Lemon in front of goal who took a touch and slotted home for his second of the match and his 4th in his last 3 games.

Again the hosts fought back and scored their second in the 73rd minute when a mistake at the back allowed an Anvils player to win the ball and cross to an unmarked Clements who took a touch before slotting home to make it 2-3.

Heath completed the scoring in the 80th minute when Croal slipped the ball past two defenders to run through and score against his old club bringing an end to very good second half display by the Bears and a result which means the team have made their best ever start to life in the Premier division with 5 wins from 6 matches.

MoM: Sam Lemon

Boss Simmons said: “Injury and unavailability has been crazy already this season and losing Wadder’s after 10 minutes is another nightmare but this squad just keep proving how strong we are, we were ok in the first half but very good in the 2nd and deserved the 3 points.”

BBH: Sheik, Frankland, Chesworth, Penfold (Clark 89), Sim, Waddingham (Young 14), Weller, H.Mark (Blake 72), Carvalho (Doughty 46), Croal Cooksley 84, Lemon.

Little Common 2 Hassocks 0 – SCFL premier

Nobody measures xG in the Southern Combination League. Which is just as well, because Hassocks would have been thoroughly depressed by expected goals compared to the actual outcome from their trip to Little Common.

The Robins were miles the better side. They played some excellent football. The only thing letting them down was their finishing.

Chance after chance went begging. It was in stark contrast to Hassocks’ last outing, a clinical display which put seven past Roffey on Bank Holiday Monday.

Little Common meanwhile managed two efforts on target all evening. Both went in, sending Hassocks to a 2-0 defeat and ending their hopes of winning four Premier Division matches in a row for the first time since 2018.

Unsurprisingly, James Westlake made no changes from the starting XI who hit that baker’s half seven against the Boars.

Fast stars have been a theme of the Westlake Era so far. Hassocks took the lead inside five minutes in each of those victories over Roffey, Alfold and AFC Uckfield Town.

The Robins nearly added another early goal here. Three minutes had elapsed when an aggressive press won Hassocks possession in midfield.

Head coach Westlake threaded in Leon Turner, only for the winger to see his shot repelled by Common goalkeeper Matt Cruttwell.

That stop looked even more important when Common took the lead three minutes later.

Sam Ellis escaped down the left channel and his pull back was swept in from close range by Lewis Hole.