Hassocks Under 23s will take on Selsey for the first time at the Bunn Leisure Stadium on Friday evening as the Robins look to continue their impressive start to the season.
This is Selsey’s first campaign entering a side at Under 23 level and they’re yet to pick up a victory, having drawn one and lost three of their West Division games so far.
The Blues’ solitary point came from a 1-1 draw with Broadbridge Heath in their last home game a week ago. That was a decent result from a Selsey point of view, with Heath arriving at the High Street Ground having dropped only two points all season prior to the stalemate.
Thomas Shergold scored the Selsey goal that evening with his first of the season. The Blues’ top scorer is Joe Palmer with three, closely followed by Alex McCarthy – presumably not the Southampton goalkeeper of the same name – who has two.
Despite their lack of victories, Selsey have been in every game they’ve played and are yet to lose by more than one goal. Their defeats have come against East Preston, Arundel and Lancing, who are the only team to take a point off the Robins so far this season.
Nigel Pearce’s side will make the long journey to the west of the county in good mood. Last week’s 4-2 win away at Mile Oak made it 13 points from a possible 15 and kept Hassocks top of the table.
With Horsham YMCA in second without a game, victory could extend the Robins lead at the top of the table to four points over their nearest rivals ahead of a break in league action next week for the Sussex County FA Under 23 Cup. Hassocks are home to Hailsham Town in that one.
Although this will be the sides first meeting at Under 23 level, there were many memorable clashes over the last 20 years between the two sides in the Southern Combination League’s reserve section, the most notable for Hassocks being when they lifted the Reserve Section Cup against the Blues in 2012.
Neil Kane and Richard Thomas got the goals for Roy Staughton’s side in a 2-1 win at Wick’s Crabtree Park ground. It was to be the first of many trophies over the next year, with the Robins going onto complete a famous treble the following season.
Kick off on Friday night is at 7.45pm.
