ROBINS ON CLOUD NINE AS RECORDS TUMBLES
Hassocks Under 23s made history last night by racking up their biggest ever win.
The Robins 9-0 success over Midhurst & Easebourne was their largest since the Southern Combination League introduced under 21 football in the summer of 2015.
Midhurst had arrived at the Beacon having scored seven themselves in a ridiculous 7-5 opening day win over Horsham YMCA.
They couldn’t land a glove on the Robins though as seven goals before half time handed Nigel Pearce’s side their first win of the campaign.
Pearce made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Lancing six days a ago. Ryan Collins was unavailable and William Glenn dropped to the bench with James Oliver and Martin Ratcliffe coming into the starting line up.
Hassocks didn’t have to wait long to take the lead as Max Willcox scored within two minutes of kick off, punishing any late stragglers who were yet to leave the bar.
There were at least 17 minutes between that goal and the second, netting by Connor Bradley with 19 on the clock.
That was the start of an astonishing run of six goals in 25 minutes with James Littlejohn opening his account for the season with the third on 21.
Willcox had departed by that point to be replaced by George Galbraith-Gibbons and last seasons under 18s top scorer wasted no time in getting in on the act, adding the Robins fourth on 25.
Galbraith-Gibbons notched the fifth with 25 played before two goals in less than 90 seconds just before half time from Littlejohn completed a 23 minute hat-trick for the Robins striker.
The second half was just five minutes old when Galbraith-Gibbons completed a treble of his own.
Hassocks’ ninth and final goal of the game arrived in the 70th minute through Littlejohn with his fourth of the night to round off a memorable evenings work for the Robins.
They are next in action away at Southwick next Thursday with kick off at the slightly earlier time of 7.30pm at Old Barn Way.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Ellis Common, Kieran Wells, Louie Derham, James Oliver, Solly Ross, Connor Bradley, Harvey Enticknap, Martin Ratcliffe, Max Willcox, James Littlejohn.
Subs: Jacob Lane, George Galbraith-Gibbons, Ben Miller, Will Glenn.
