Hassocks Under 23s face what should prove to be their toughest test of the season so far as Hastings United visit the Beacon this Thursday in the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup.
It will be the first time that the Robins have faced opponents from the Bluefin Sports Development League in a competitive game.
The scale of the challenge is laid bare by the fact that United progressed to the second round of the competition by hammering reigning Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division champions Pagham 5-0 at the Pilot Field.
They’re having a fine season in the league as well, currently sitting fourth with 16 points from nine games.
Leaders Tooting & Mitcham are some way ahead on 25 points but United are one of six teams from Burgess Hill Town in second down to Three Bridges in seventh who are separated by just two points.
United will come into the fixture in good spirits. They won their last Monday 2-0 at home against Sittingbourne and haven’t tasted defeat since going down 5-4 to Lewes at the end of September.
Hassocks meanwhile booked their spot with a 6-0 win over Hailsham Town back in mid-October. Max Willcox scored four times that day with James Littlejohn and Connor Bradley the other scorers.
Nigel Pearce’s side have only played twice more since that win victory over the Stringers. They defeated Mile Oak 5-0 a week later and snuck past Lancing 3-2 after that in their last fixture which took place three weeks ago.
Their last scheduled game against Broadbridge Heath was postponed due to the wet weather of last Wednesday and Thursday.
The sides last met at this level in the 2009-10 season when Hastings fielded a team in the Southern Combination Reserve Premier.
Dan Jacques scored the only goal of the game for Scott Osbourne’s side as they won 1-0 at the Beacon in the April meeting while earlier in the campaign they shared a 2-2 draw at the Pilot Field with Richard Thomas netting twice for the Robins.
Kick off on Thursday evening is at 7.45pm and entrance is priced at £3 adults with everybody else going free. Both the Robins Bar and the T Bar will be open for beer and hot food and drinks respectively.
