The visitors were fully deserved of their victory as United produced an uncharacteristically sluggish performance as they fell to defeat against a side they have now failed to beat in any of their last seven meetings.
Michael Death proved to be a thorn in the United side all afternoon and could have given Hassocks the lead inside the opening five minutes, but his header cleared the crossbar. Hassocks thought they had taken the lead midway through the half as Josh Hawkes fired an effort past James Broadbent, but the post came to United’s rescue before Phil Gault tapped home the rebound, for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Soon after, Death gave Hassocks the lead as he was allowed too much time and space on the edge of the 18 yard box before unleashing a left footed effort past the helpless Broadbent. United struggled to generate any clear cut chances, with their best effort of the opening half falling to Liam Baitup, but the United marksman could only direct his shot straight into the arms of Hassocks ‘keeper Alex Harris.
Baitup did find the net at the start of the second half, but his diving header at the far post fell victim to the assistants’ flag after being judged offside.
The visitors lead was doubled as the hour mark approached, with Hawkes placing the ball through the legs of Broadbent when clean through following a through ball from Death.
A third goal followed for the visitors as a hopefully punt into the area was misjudged by Broadbent, leaving Hawkes with the simple task of rolling the ball into an unguarded net to ensure a miserable afternoon for United