No FA Cup giant-killing, but Hassocks give Chipstead a scare

There was to be no FA Cup giant killing act by Hassocks but those who packed out the Beacon for the visit of Isthmian League Chipstead were certainly kept entertained over 90 barnstorming minutes.

The first meeting between these two 10 days ago ended in a pretty bland 0-0 draw in south London which necessitated this replay.

Indeed, when Hassocks’ enigmatic defender Dan Jacques was asked afterwards for the highlights from the action at the Chips’ High Road home, his response was, “Jesus, I’m struggling here,” before adding, “I’d be a terrible pundit.”

To be fair to Jacques, even Chris Kamara would have had trouble making that stalemate sound exciting.

But there was no such struggle back in Mid Sussex. Five goals flew in, countless more opportunities were missed and the action ebbed and flowed from one end to the other at a rate of knots.

It finished 3-2 to the visitors but Hassocks may well feel that they deserved to go to extra time at the very least.

There was more than a hint of handball in Chipstead’s opener.

The Robins then missed a glorious chance to equalise right at the death when Dan Stokes’ effort didn’t quite have enough meat on it to beat Chips goalkeeper Oliver Pain.

Having said that, the visitors could point to the performance of Josh Green as evidence that it was them who were worthy progressors to the first qualifying round, where they will now meet Westfield.

Green was in sparkling form in the Hassocks goal, pulling off four quality saves which kept his side in the tie.

That followed on from an equally impressive showing in the first fixture.

One Chipstead connection was heard to quip that they’d be surprised to come up against a goalkeeping performance as good as this again this season, high praise indeed from visitors who ply their trade a level above the Robins.

There was little indication of the action that was to unfold in an indifferent opening 10 minutes.

Hassocks had more of the ball and went close on two occasions, but there was really very little to report until Chipstead scored with their first foray forward with 20 minutes on the clock.

An overlap on the right hand side saw Tommy Smith able to deliver a cross which appeared to hit a Chipstead head and then a hand on its way to being swept home by Tom Collins.