The View 3-0 Hassocks Fatboys Reserves
After an up-and-down pre-season, Hassocks Fatboys Reserves kicked off their Division Three campaign with a 3-0 defeat against The View.
The View are looking to bounce back to Division Two at the first time of asking following their relegation at the end of last season. The Fatboys meanwhile were hoping to build on last seasons successes which included a mid table finish and reaching the clubs first ever cup final in the Sussex Sunday League Junior Invitational Cup.
Before the season could kick off, we had a problem with the grass. Brighton and Hove City Council had cut Waterhall but then they’d left all the cuttings lying around on the pitches. Not since that underground cannabis factory was discovered and raided in Burgess Hill in 2008 had anyone seen that much grass.
The Council said later in the week that they always leave cuttings on the top and allow the wind to disperse it, an idea that seemed very silly for two reasons. One was that there hasn’t been any wind all summer and the second was that throughout the cricket season there was never any grass left lying around. Double standards and certainly not the sort of service you expect for the £70 odd you pay to hire a pitch.
Both sides helped to clear the grass off the pitch before kick off although the Fatboys will wish they hadn’t have bothered given what happened in the second half in particular.
Manager Jamie Stratton has been inspired this summer by the success of England at the World Cup and their new 3-5-2 formation and so he has tried a change of his own, abandoning 4-3-3 for 4-4-2. 22-year-old goalkeeper Nick Jones lined up in goal before he jets off to his homeland for a few weeks, although we aren’t sure which homeland he is going to out of Australia, Wales, Ireland or the Ivory Coast.
The back four was made up of Sam Harding, Ross Joannides, Sam Wilson and Nick Davie with the midfield four being Justin Parker, Reece Wickwar, Sam McNamara and Josh Evetts. It was good to see Snake and Evetts making their returns after not playing last season. Up front, Chris Clayton was partnered by Laurence Ridgewell who was making his first appearance for the reserves.
The View started the brighter of the two teams, playing some good football through midfield but never managing to break through the Fatboys defence. They were largely restricted to long range shots as a result which didn’t trouble young Jones.
After weathering the storm, the Fatboys came into the game more with Ridgewell in particular causing plenty of problems as Wickwar and McNamara began to create opportunities for the debutant striker.
The best chance of the opening 25 minutes fell to the most unlikely of sources. Evetts did superbly to win a corner thanks to his pace and trickery on the wing and the resulting set piece eventually fell to Davie 35 yards out. Despite everybody telling him not to shoot, Davie ignored this advice and unleashed a powerful strike that sailed just over the bar.
Ridgwell then crossed for Clayton who put a header just over and Wickwar played in Evetts who was denied only by a brilliant save from The View goalkeeper.
The Fatboys almost paid the price for those missed chances when they failed to deal with a long ball forward. It fell to The View number eight who had time and space but Joannides flew in from nowhere to put his body on the line with a superb block which kept the scoreline goalless at the break.
Stratton’s half time team talk focused on how his side could go onto win the game, which led to The View taking the lead within 10 minutes of the restart. Jones had already made a smart save from the number nine when the Fatboys defence found themselves at sixes and sevens from a long ball. Joannides did well to recover and block the initial effort by the rebound fell perfectly for The View sub who smashed home.
The Fatboys nearly mounted the perfect response when Evetts caused problems down the left to find Parker who’s shot was blocked. The loose ball fell to substitute Mark Potter who lashed his effort wide.
That miss proved costly as The View doubled their lead shortly after. The Fatboys defence switched off for a moment and again it cost them dear as a dangerous ball across the face of goal so every green shirt stand and watch as it fell to the left winger at the back post who tapped in for the most basic of finishes.
The Fatboys didn’t let their heads drop and some neat work down the right between Parker, Davie and Kenny Tinnion created an opening for Parker to try his luck from distance but his shot was inches over.
The View added their third late on when the right winger cut inside. His shot was blocked by Davie on the line but again the Fatboys were slow to react and with there not being enough bodies back, the hosts number eight had the time and space to pick his spot and curl a beauty into the top corner.
That completed a remarkable second collapse that wasn’t too dissimilar to the Fatboys 4-1 defeat against The View in the Sussex County Trophy last season. Stratton and his side will be looking to bounce back next week when they make the glamour trip to take on Crawley Cosmos.
FATBOYS 4-4-2
Nick Jones
Nothing he could do about the three goals. He produced some excellent saves throughout and an even better array of weird noises when shanking goal kicks out of play.
Sam Harding
Put in an excellent shift at right back. Had a difficult task against a very quick winger and did well to keep him quiet for long periods of the game.
Ross Joannides
It was a man of the match performance from the talented centre back. He put in some superb slide tackles and even tried to pass the ball out from the back much to several peoples horror.
Sam Wilson
His form as one of the standout players in pre season has led to genuine suspicion of substance abuse. Carried that on with another superb performance.
Nick Davie
Lucky to escape a booking for a shocking first half tackle. Apart from that, he was in with a shout of man of the match, much like the rest of the back four.
Justin Parker
Came close to netting the Fatboys first goal of the season. Neat and tidy at times and his delivery asked questions throughout the 90 minutes.
Reece Wickwar
Had a fascinating battle with The View’s number eight. It was a real captains performance as he linked up well with practically everyone on the pitch wearing green.
Sam McNamara
Great to have him back at the club and it looks like he won’t be slithering off this time having committed to the Fatboys Direct Debit scheme. This was an encouraging return.
Josh Evetts
The other returning player in the Fatboys line up was the most dangerous player going forward as his pace and skill caused The View plenty of problems.
Chris Clayton
Linked up well with Ridgewell given that they have never played a game together. Was unlucky to see his towering header fly just over the bar.
Laurence Ridgewell
Even in the 90th minute he was chasing everything down. Looks like he could be a key player for the reserves this season presuming he can commit to Sunday football as well as playing for Ansty Sports & Social on a Sunday.
SUBS
Mark Potter
Almost had the dream start with a long range effort shortly after his introduction. Offered plenty of work rate in the middle of the park before receiving a dead leg.
Kevin Ticehurst
Put in some firm challenges and passes. Caused much laughter when he told The View right winger he hadn’t got past him once all day five minutes after the right winger had skipped past him to set up the first. The right winger then did the same for the second five minutes later.
Tommy Tyler
Replaced the shattered Evetts out on the left and got up and down the flank well, linking up with Wickwar particularly well.
Kenny Tinnion
Came on in the centre of midfield and linked up well with his Brother of Destruction, Justin Parker. A couple of silky touches helped to bring Ridgewell into the game too.
Russell Jebbitt
Unused.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Could easily go to Nick Jones or any of the back four but Ross Joannides just about took the vote for the organisation he offered and the touch of class he brought to back line.