For the second year in a row, Saltdean United are the August Bank Holiday Monday visitors to the Beacon in Southern Combination League Premier Division action.
The clash between the two sides a year ago was Hassocks’ first meeting with the United for 16 years following the Tigers lengthy absence from the top flight. United ran out 1-0 winners that day thanks to Ashley Rees’ goal 10 minutes from time.
They followed that up with a far more convincing win at Hill Park three months later in what was both sides final game of 2017.
Hassocks came into half time thinking they’d made a decent first of defending an almighty wind, turning around only 1-0 behind to Rob O’Toole’s fantastic 36th minute finish.
With conditions in their favour in the second half, the Robins fancied their chances of coming back into the tie but those hopes proved to be forlorn as further goals from Ryan Warwick and former Bristol Rovers professional James Fraser secured a 3-0 for Damion Freeman’s side.
There have been 26 meetings between the two with both sides having won 12 games apiece and only two draws, meaning it is one that you want to avoid putting on your coupon.
The Robins head-to-head is largely helped by our clashes in Division One in the early 1990s, when Hassocks won six games out of six, scoring 19 goals and conceding just four.
United look well equipped this season to build on their eighth place finish of last time and in a division that looks wide open so far could easily find themselves challenging for honours.
They arrive at the Beacon in third spot with two wins and a draw from three completed games, victories over Eastbourne United and Broadbridge Heath following on from an opening day draw at Langney Wanderers.
The Tigers most recent league game was abandoned on Tuesday night with 75 minutes played after a serious injury to one of their payers. They were trailing Horsham YMCA 3-1 at the time.
United could field two familiar faces at the Beacon. Hassocks’ number one from last season Nathan Stroomberg made the move to Hill Park in the summer after playing 21 times for the Robins following his arrival from Lewes a few weeks into the season.
Another summer signing for the Tigers was striker Ben Bacon from Three Bridges. Bacon spent the 2016-17 campaign at the Beacon, scoring nine times in 24 appearances before moving to Steyning Town at the end of the season.
Kick off is at 11am and all the normal facilities will be open. Entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and under 16s go free.
