Lancing prove more lethal than Guy Fawkes in Senior Cup win against Hassocks

If Guy Fawkes and his fellow Gunpowder Plotters had been as deadly on November 5th 1605 as Lancing were on Bonfire Night 2019, then British history would have a very different look to it.

Whereas Fawkes and Co failed to take their opportunity to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament, Naim Rouane’s Lancers were lethal in front of goal as they converted four of their six chances to beat Hassocks 4-1 and move into the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup.

This was a result that wasn’t unexpected; after all, Lancing are second in the Southern Combination League Premier Division table while Hassocks are just two places off the bottom.

But it was a much closer game than the final score suggests. Hassocks dominated for long periods but every time they failed to make that pressure count, Lancing’s vibrant side would punish them by scoring at the other end.

When Lancing did have the ball, they were excellent with it. There can’t be many teams in the top flight who are as comfortable or a good in possession as Rouane’s title chasers.

It was an incise passing move that gave the visitors the first chance of the game after just four minutes, Lewis Finney’s snapshot drawing a fine save from Josh Green.

Finney is the Premier Division’s leading scorer with 24 goals and he wasn’t to be denied for long, opening the scoring with a breath taking goal with nine minutes on the clock.

There didn’t look to be too much danger when Harry Mills’ loose pass surrendered possession for Hassocks, but Finney showed astonishing awareness to spot Green slightly off his line, sending a controlled effort from 40-odd yards out sailing over the head of the Robins goalkeeper and into the top corner