The draws for the Sussex County Cup competitions have been made with Hassocks set to take on Crawley Down Gatwick in the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
The Robins will host in the competitions 2017 runners up in the second round stage at the Beacon. The winners will go onto face Division One opposition at home in the third round, with the winners of Seaford Town v Southwick lying in wait.
Hassocks and Crawley Down’s first ever meeting in senior football came at the same stage of the same competition back in the 2005-06 season. On that occasion, it took an Anthony Hibbert strike nine minutes from time for Dave John’s side to see off their spirited opponents from a division lower.
There have been two subsequent RUR Cup meetings since then. Two years later, Hibbert was again on target along with a Matt Amos hat-trick as the Robins sauntered to a 4-0 win at the Haven. Our last meeting in the competition came during Down’s run to the final, a convincing 3-0 win for the Anvils in the last eight.
Hassocks Under 23s will enter the Sussex Under 23s Challenge Cup at the first round stage.Nigel Pearce’s side will host Hailsham Town at the Beacon, having knocked the Stringers out of the competition last year in the third round stage.
The Robins ran out 5-0 winners at the Beaconsfield on that occasion through a Kieran Rowe brace and goals from Connor Bradley, Max Willcox and Matt Berridge. The winners will face a difficult task against either Hastings United or Pagham in the second round.
In the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup, Hassocks Under 18s will enter in the second round stage with a home tie against Bosham. The winners of that will the be at home to either AFC Varndeanians or Haywards Heath Town, giving Brad Sweetman’s side the tantalising prospect of a potential Mid Sussex Derby in the third round.
The Veterans face a trip to Furnance Green Rovers in the Sussex Veterans Challenge Cup and the ladies will host Bexhill United in the Sussex Women’s Challenge Trophy.
