Hassocks hit the cup trail for the first game in the Beacon’s Bank Holiday Weekend Double Header as Crawley Down Gatwick visit in the second round of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
This hastily arranged game takes place due to both sides having been eliminated from the FA Cup. For Hassocks, that came via a 3-1 defeat to Erith Town a fortnight ago. Down meanwhile went down 1-0 to last seasons Southern Combination League runners up, Three Bridges.
That remains their only defeat so far this season in what has been a highly impressive start for Paul Cooper’s side. They are unbeaten in the league following 0-0 draws with Lingfield and Arundel, a highly credible 1-1 draw at home to early leaders Pagham and a 3-2 victory over Shoreham in their last outing on Tuesday night.
Compared to Hassocks, Down have an excellent pedigree when it comes to the RUR Cup. While the Robins have three semi-final appearances to their name, the most recent of which came in 2012, the Anvils lifted the trophy when completing a league and cup double in 2011 and finished runners up two seasons ago.
They knocked out Hassocks on their way to Culver Road on that most recent final appearance, running out convincing 3-0 winners at the quarter final stage in December 2016.
The teams had gone in level at the Haven with the Robins having missed a succession of chances and they were punished for that prolifigacy when Marc Pelling, Mike Spence and Sam Cane booked Down’s semi final spot. The Anvils went onto meet Newhaven in the final but they were well beaten, going down 5-0 to the Dockers.
That meeting in the last eight is one of three between the two sides in the competition. Hassocks and Crawley Down’s first ever meeting in senior football came in the second-round stage of the RUR Cup 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.
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.
The sides met most recently in March when Jake Lindsey continued his bright start to life in the first team, scoring for the third time in five starts to help secure a point at the Haven in a 1-1 draw. Johden De Meyer had given Down the lead in the sixth minute.
That is one of only two draws in 14 previous games between Hassocks and Crawley Down. The Robins have won seven of those with Down having five wins to their name, the most recent of which came when they triumphed 3-1 at the Beacon last September.
Saturday’s game kicks off a busy 48 hours for the Robins. Hot on it’s heels, Mark Dalgleish’s side will host Saltdean United in Premier Division action on Monday morning at 11am.
The visit of the Anvils kicks off at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults and £3 concessions.
