Friday Freebie: Festive Football Doesn't Disappoint

Find out what goes behind the paywall

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Paying subscribers will know as do those across my social media that I mix up as much as I can behind the paywall in terms of putting into words where I’ve watched football across the week whilst adding in some opinion pieces and interviews where time permits.

Now I don’t just put together a simple match report because you can pop onto the home side’s website and read that for yourself. Within what I write I look to capture the important moments of course, but also there is so much more to an afternoon or evening at the football.

The people play a huge part within the fabric of the game and it’s taking note of that too, there are players in front of my eyes that I look at and try to pick out where I can those who ‘put in a shift’ as so to speak or stand out above others, not always the case however.

I know these blogs are read far and wide, it gives that little extra exposure that is needed across the game and when they’re free to read I hope they get shared around that little bit more.

So, onto tonight’s piece of work. Many of us associate this time of year with the three F’s, Family, Food, and Football but not always in that order! My late father introduced me to Boxing Day football when I was under the age of 10 and despite a few barren years at times it’s what I incorporate across the festive period.

My game for the day was decided upon a very long time ago and I did almost change the fixture for a variety of reasons. Haywards Heath vs Hassocks was until six or seven weeks ago looking very much a title decider in the Southern Combination Premier Division.

In that time, off the field distractions culminated in Naim Rouane leaving with the side having lost once all season in the league and conceded less than ten goals, a bizarre decision from the outside looking in.

Rouane was replaced by last season’s title winning manager Kevin Green and fair to say it’s been a baptism of fire for the ex-Steyning Town boss and his management team.

The Robins have continued winning games and were 11 points clear at kick off, not quite over in terms of the title but a lot of ground to make up. I had also rocked up at the Home Smart Energy Stadium five days previous too, a trophy for Team of the Month for the previous manager needed presenting to the club chairman as they hosted third placed Roffey (Roffey coming away 2-0 winners), I almost changed tack to elsewhere.

But I stuck with the 11am kick off, Pagham vs Wick at 12pm was another consideration, however. I rarely ever watch a side three times before the turn of the year, once we get into title races, relegation scraps and play-off chases then everyone is fair game.

A very damp morning with that fine drizzle in the air was the theme through the 90 minutes, what unfolded was dramatic, full of drama and an unbelievable end.

The pitch was heavy from the start, both sets of players struggling to keep footing and play simple passes. As per the weekend the home side had the majority of the possession but looked a little lightweight in the final third and struggled to create clear cut chances.

The chances were beginning to come for the visitors and Hassocks duly took the lead on 23 minutes, a super hit from Josh Mundy about 20 yards out caught out Mitch Bromage and the league leaders were in front.

Neither side threatened to make any changes to the scoreline before the interval and the only shot on target produced the single goal Hassocks led by at half time.

The second half was eventful, that’s the only way to describe it! Well, in fact there was not much to say before the final 15 minutes were in town, both sides making substitutions to force the game their way but it turned or so we thought in the 83rd minute.

A corner waiting to be played in by Heath saw their player floored by Hassocks keeper Jordan Brown, promptly sent off for the alleged use of a fist or an elbow, the visitors down to ten men with around seven minutes to play.

What followed from then on was nothing short of drama of the highest order. From that corner the ball was recycled a couple of times and stabbed home for the equaliser through Liam Benson, a goal that hadn’t looked like coming for the home side.

A minute later the visitors were awarded a penalty for handball and a quick chance to regain their lead, substitute Charlie Pitcher seeing his spot kick well saved by Bromage and possibly the three points gone.

But ladies and gentlemen we’re not done yet! With Heath defence going walkabout to get that winning goal, Pitcher was left with acres of space on the left wing, strode forward and slid a beautiful ball past Bromage in the 89^th minute to give Hassocks the lead once again.

Done? Absolutely not! What more I hear you ask? Well, Heath came again and bundled the ball home, Kiarn Asafu-Adjaye getting the home side a second equaliser in the most bizarre of circumstances, the time for Hassocks to kick off and the final whistle blown.

A collective catching of breath amongst the 806 in attendance, yes that many on a day of superb figures up and down the country in non-league football.

I don’t recall seeing a more dramatic 10-15 minutes in one game over the 45 I’ve seen so far this season as what I witnessed on Thursday lunchtime. I remarked to Hassocks chairman Pat Harding after the game had the keeper stayed on then a good chance, they win that game with Heath needing to push for an equaliser but against 11 and not ten men, margins.

For Kev Green it stops the rot of three defeats in a row, having spoken to him before the game and understanding the injury situation and wanting to bring in his own players, the only thing respite from the outside is winning games. As I reminded him too, his Steyning side went on a 20 match unbeaten run to win the title clawing back an 11 point lead, is it possible for lightening to strike twice? Guess you have to watch this space!

Great to catch up with the Heath Secretary Paul Stone before kick off too, a casualty in a way of the fall out in the last few weeks, likewise volunteer photographer Ray Turner who I spent the first half with, plenty of his pics this season over on www.thesnlf.co.uk and another loss to the club.

A half time catch up with Wealdstone fan and all round groundhopper Victor Klarfeld was long overdue, there are always people to grab a chat with at many of these grounds I go to and nine times out of ten you’ll see them at least once more somewhere else before the season ends.

A game of hard endeavour, Pat happy to take a point and one again on the weekend against their two biggest rivals as Roffey head to The Beacon. Pitcher going from zero to almost hero in the space of seconds happened all so quickly, fellow substitutes in blue and white of Benson and Asafu-Adjaye keeping the Heath hopes alive.

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