Hassocks Fatboys Reserves 4-2 Hove United

 

Two goals in the opening 15 minutes helped Hassocks Fatboys Reserves see off ten man Hove United to remain undefeated in 2019.

Player-manager Reece Wickwar was given a selection headache with a plethora of options available to him, and opted to bring in a rehabilitating Jason Gander, the debuting Luke Vick and the returning Tom Pinnock. It was the latter that made the most immediate impact.

Straight from kick-off the Fatboys forced Hove into conceding a corner. A dangerous cross was cleared for a second and Ali Jenkins swung this one deep towards the far post. Jenkins was insistent he had scored directly from the set piece but a defender on the line thwarted him. However, it was only cleared as far as Pinnock six yards out and the diminutive attacker made no mistake, giving the home side the lead in less than two minutes.

Fatboys’ stalwart 22-year-old Nick Jones was on hand to smother a rare foray into his box from Hove in what was otherwise a bright opening spell for the men in green.

Chances came and went as Justin Parker came in from the right wing to volley narrowly wide, Wickwar had a curling effort from distance and only a bobble prevented Pinnock from adding a second in the early going.

Jon Kelly, in central midfield with Mike Meckiff, showed his unconventional skills by sliding on his knees to control the ball. Soon afterwards he had a more telling impact as his flick sent Vick into the box. The winger managed to outpace the defender and rifled the ball into the top corner from a tight angle to double his side’s lead with only 10 minutes gone.

Confidence was flowing as the Fatboys looked to control proceedings with Vick adding a spot of flair as he casually flicked a long ball over the head of the onrushing fullback and rounded him to gather.

The backline of Jenkins, Gander, Stuart Young and Jules Clay were keeping the visitors at arm’s length. Hove United found a rare opening after 20 minutes but Clay, using all of the business acumen that made him a bestselling author, was able to launch a hostile takeover of the goalbound strike and divert it wide.

Frustration boiled over from the Hove right back as he kicked out at Vick after being beaten again to earn himself a yellow card.

The Fatboys continued to control the tempo of the game with Jones only being called into action once more in the half.

With half time approaching, Pinnock scored his second as he rose unmarked to flick a long throw from Parker into the far corner to send the Fatboys into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

At half-time Wickwar ordered his side to keep on the front foot and not let Hove United back into the game. He led by example and almost got on the scoresheet two minutes after the restart but his sweeping left foot shot cannoned off the crossbar.

This sparked the away side into life and they started to press and probe the Fatboys’ defensive shape. The back four were standing firm until the 53rd minute when Hove shot from the edge of the box. The block from the onrushing Gander merely diverted the ball into the top corner past the helpless Nick Jones. Replays were unable to conclude if the shot would have gone in without Gander’s intervention.

The momentum shifted and Hove looked to capitalise and get back in the game. A close range effort was parried onto the post by Jones and, in his attempt to clear, Clay smashed the ball sideways into Stuart Young and it cannoned narrowly wide.

The addition of Kenny Tinnion and Sam Harding from the bench helped provide fresh legs but the game was more or less over as a contest when, on the 70th minute, the Hove right back committed his 17th foul of the game. Having already shown him a yellow and given him a last warning minutes earlier the referee had no choice but to give him his marching orders.

More fresh legs in the shape of Mark Potter, Stevie Stockwell and Kevin Ticehurst helped the home side get back on the front foot as Harding was denied his third goal of the season when his close range volley was cleared off the line.

The 10 men of Hove gamely tried to get something and a powerful strike from inside the area rattled the crossbar. The ball fell to a Hove attacker eight yards out who inexplicably attempted a rabona drawing the ire of his team and laughter from his opposition. Even the referee was irritated by it.

With only a couple of minutes remaining the Fatboys forced a corner and, with only a couple of teammates to aim at, Parker earned his second assist of the game as he picked out the towering Tinnion to head home under no pressure to make it 4-1.

There was still time for the visitors to string a good team move together in the final seconds to narrow the gap to 4-2 with a close range finish but it was scant consolation as the Fatboys left Clayton Rec with a fully deserved three points continued their strong start to 2019.
 

FATBOYS RESERVES (4-4-1-1)

Nick Jones
The 22-year-old could do nothing about the goals but was otherwise tidy and dominant.
Jules Clay
A second start and second outstanding display in successive games from the veteran.
Jason Gander
What he lacks in pace he made up for with composure and strength. May have had a possible own goal which would have been a very Gander way to mark his first football since September.
Ali Jenkins
Continued his good run of form with another strong defensive display and an assist.
Stuart Young
A typically tireless display from the fullback.
Justin Parker
Two assists from set pieces but contributed well in open play too.
Mike Meckiff
Worked hard for the team to control the midfield.
Jon Kelly
A thorn in Hove’s side throughout, not giving the opposition a moment’s rest.
Luke Vick
Fans will hope the well taken goal on his reserve team debut is a sign of things to come.
Reece Wickwar
Only thing missing from his performance was the goal he so richly deserved.
Tom Pinnock
Showed the Fatboys’ faithful what they’ve been missing with a brace on his return from hibernation.
 

SUBS

Kenny Tinnion
Added a more physical presence in midfield and rose well to head home for his goal.
Sam Harding
Nearly got himself a goal again despite having woken up at 4am in the morning on the floor of his hallway.
Stevie Stockwell
Full of running and always keen to get involved.
Mark Potter
Worked hard but the ball just wouldn’t sit for him to have a shot from distance.
Kevin Ticehurst
Always offered an outlet that forced the opposition to sit deeper.
 

GOALS

02′ Pinnock, assist Jenkins
10′ Vick, assist Kelly
40′ Pinnock, assist Jenkins
88′ Tinnion, assist Parker
 

MAN OF THE MATCH

Multiple candidates but it’s hard to overlook Tom Pinnock for his brace and overall workrate