Harvey Blake capped off an outstanding October in Hassocks colours by being named the club’s Player of the Month after amassing just under half of the votes.
The full back scored 46% to see off the challenges of Phil Johnson and Will Broomfield who were tied on 27%. Johnson took second place by virtue of the fact that he played more minutes, leaving Broomfield to settle for third.
Blake started all six of Hassocks’ games throughout the month, keeping up his record of being one of only two players to have been involved in all 19 first games to date, the other being Liam Benson.
He picked up four man-of-the-match awards along the way, being deemed the Robins star performer in the 2-1 home defeat to Crawley Down Gatwick, the 3-0 loss against Lingfield, the 2-1 defeat to Newhaven and the 6-2 Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup win over Seaford Town.
The trip to Little Common was one of only two games in October that Blake didn’t pick up man-of-the-match, but it was still a memorable afternoon at the Oval as he notched his first senior goal for the club in the 4-2 defeat against the Southern Combination League Premier Division newcomers.
Perhaps most impressive of all about Blake’s performances though has been the versatility he has shown, switching from the right back berth he has made his own this season to cover at left back in absence of captain Jordan Badger.
It’s Blake’s first Player of the Month award since his summer switch from Mid Sussex Premier League outfit Sporting Lindfield, having finished second to Jack Wilkins in the poll for August.
Johnson started all but one of Hassocks’ October games having been rested for the opening game of the month in the Sussex Senior Cup away at Chichester City.
It was his least prolific month of the campaign so far with only three goals coming, but the summer signing from Horsham YMCA still heads the Robins scoring charts, averaging over a goal every other game having plundered 11 in 17 so far.
Johnson has been in the top three in every Player of the Month poll so far this season but it still yet to win the award. He finished third last month and second in September – perhaps it will be fourth time lucky for the talismanic forward in November?
For Broomfield, this was his first ever appearance in the top three in his second season with the Robins. He missed the month’s opening games against Chichester and Crawley Down Gatwick having picked up a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at East Preston in September.
He returned for the Lingfield game and was a real rock at the heart of the Robins defence, especially with so many changes going on around him in terms of his partners at centre back with Badger, Dan Jacques and Harry Mills all being used alongside him.
Despite that inconsistency, Broomfield remained a tower of strength for a richly deserved third place.
