After 11 days without a game, Hassocks return to Southern Combination League Premier Division action with the visit of struggling Eastbourne United Association to the Beacon.
The Robins will go into the tie in good spirits. They’ve lost just two of their last seven games, winning three to banish the memories of a slow start to the campaign.
That’s in stark contrast to United, who are having a difficult time of it it so far. Tobi Hutchinson resigned as manager over the summer to be replaced by Ryan Cooper and Cooper is yet to oversee a league victory.
United’s solitary point came in a 1-1 draw on the opening day when Ollie Black’s 84th minute equaliser earned them a share of the spoils at home to Arundel.
United were unable to raise a side when set to be taking on Peacehaven & Telscombe on Bank Holiday Monday but there has at least been some steady progress since then.
Cooper tasted victory as a manager for the first time 11 days ago when his side ran out 1-0 winners in the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup away at St Francis Rangers.
Joel Mbiya Kalambayi got the only goal of the game for United in a confidence boosting win that supporters will hope proves to be a turning point in their campaign.
They’ll have fond memories of their last visit to the Beacon which came in February. United ended a barren run of form of 17 games without a victory with a 2-1 success that proved to be the catalyst for a much improved second half of the season that saw Hutchinson led the side to safety, eventually finishing six points and two places clear of Hassocks who will filled the last relegation spot.
Hassocks had gone to the Oval the previous September and ended their own poor spell of nine consecutive defeats with a 1-0.
Jordan Badger scored the only goal after three minutes to secure a fifth successive win down on the sunshine coast for the Robins. Clearly, there is something about playing each other away that brings out the best in these two.
The Robins dominate the head-to-head with 18 wins to United’s 10 and 12 draws in the 40 meetings to date. In 30 Premier Division clashes, nothing can separate the Robins and United as they both have 10 wins apiece with 10 draws in there as well.
Hassocks also have a very good record of hitting the net against them, having notched 78 times at an average of more than two goals a game – although that was helped hugely by a 7-1 win in the FA Cup in 2010 which remains the Robins second biggest win of the last decade.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm on Saturday and entry is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and under 16s go free.
