Gaskin bags a brace as Shoreham see off Peacheaven

George Gaskin netted twice to help Shoreham Football Club seal a 2-0 Southern Combination League Premier Division home triumph over Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday.
Geroge Gaskin (left) struck twice as Shoreham saw off Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday. Picture: Stephen GoodgerGeroge Gaskin (left) struck twice as Shoreham saw off Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Goodger
Geroge Gaskin (left) struck twice as Shoreham saw off Peacehaven & Telscombe on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Goodger

The brace ensured Gaskin reached 20 goals in all competitions so far this season, while also ensuring his side made it ten wins from 11 league matches to date.

Despite their remarkable start, Mussels only lead the way by two points from second-placed Haywards Heath, and Pagham, down in fourth, are five points off the pace with a game in hand.

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Shoreham manager Bryan O’Toole felt it was a frustrating afternoon but victory was most important.

He said: “We haven’t been playing to the level we should in the past couple of weeks.

“For some reason, our standard seems to have slipped a little but we are winning matches and that is most important.

“Saturday was a similar story to our game at home against Newhaven, we missed so many chances.

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“Looking back we could have been out of sight after 30 minutes but instead we were just one up at the break.

“In the coming weeks it is important that our level begins to pick up and we start putting games to bed.”

Mussels could have been two goals to the good inside the opening ten minutes.

Gaskin went through one-on-one but saw his effort saved by Peacehaven goalkeeper Alieu Secka.

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Moments later, Jack Hartley fizzed in a teasing cross but Rob O’Toole was not quite able to get a finishing touch on it.

The deadlock was finally broken with 20 minutes on the clock as Gaskin notched his 19th of the season.

Chances continued to come and go before the half was out, with Gaskin, Rob O’Toole and Hartley missing good openings.

Gaskin then added a second six minutes after the break to reach the 20 goal mark for this season.

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Mussels found things tricky in the closing stages as Peacehaven opened up a little more but in the end Bryan O’Toole’s side were comfortable winners.

Despite seeing his side continue to churn out results, Bryan O’Toole believes changes may need to be made in the coming weeks.

Following Saturday’s game, forward Charlie Pitcher is set for a move back to league rivals Loxwood.

And Mussels boss O’Toole revealed a slight shake-up could be on the horizon.

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He added: “I’ve not been best pleased with how we’ve performed in the past couple of matches.

“I’m not too sure why we seem to have dropped but, if necessary, I will make changes.

“We’re still winning matches, which is the most important, but I think we are getting a little too comfortable in games. I want to see us be more clinical in front of goal and make sure that when chances come we take them.”

SHOREHAM: Heyburn; Zydonik, Familton, Pearson, Hand; Packer, J.Keehan, Storrie, Hartley; O’Toole, Gaskin. Subs: Pitcher (Zydonik), Cradock (Storrie), O’Hagan (Pearson), Bunker, Stevens.

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