Chichester City suffered their second successive 3-2 defeat as they lost at home to Hassocks on Saturday.

Missed chances and sloppy defending contributed to their downfall against a typically efficient Hassocks outfit. In fact City could have got behind straight from the kick off as the ball was played back to Gary Smart whose mis-kick presented James Laing with a good chance. Laing should have done better than shoot over the bar.

City got away with that error but then missed a glorious chance at the other end as Adrian Brockway miscued a cross from Scott Murfin at the far post that should have given the home side the advantage.

Instead Hassocks steadily consolidated and were well on top by the time that Chris Brown gave the visitors a 24^th minute lead with time to bring the ball down under control before firing past Smart from a narrow angle.

Three minutes later it looked all over for City as Tony Hibbert strolled through a static defence to lob a second over Smart.

City can’t afford to give sides a two goal start but did fight back with plenty of spirit and on 38 minutes an exchange between Scott Tipper and Scott Murfin gave them hope as the latter ran onto a return pass to slide the ball past Joel Harding.

Good chances for Tipper and Murfin at the start of the second period should have brought an equaliser but on 58 minutes the deficit was extended to two goals again.

This time the cross came over from the right and Laing was unmarked for a simple tap in at the far post.

Matt Smith almost immediately headed wide from Scott Murfin’s corner, but as play switched back and forth from end to end Smart made two important saves to deny Pat Harding.

Then with time running out a darting run from Scott Murfin bisected the visitors defence and James Smith got the final touch to make it 2-3 with five minutes remaining.

But Hassocks are proving tough customers this season and their lowly League position testifies more to their progress in an assortment of Cup competitions rather than poor form and they held on for the three points without too many alarms.

City remain seventh.

Report written by Trevor Wallis

Chichester Team: Smart, Miah, Brockway, Stephens, Chamberlain, Smith M., Murfin N., Cutler, Tipper, Murfin S., Vongas.
Subs: Smith J. & Hickman (used), Guarnaccio, Guarnaccio & Angell (not used)
Scorers: Murfin S., Smith J.

Attendance: 55