Weather permitting, Hassocks face one of their toughest tests of the season this weekend as Southern Combination League Premier Division leaders Horsham YMCA visit the Beacon.
The last two scheduled games at the ground have been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, with the first teams clash with AFC Uckfield Town on Tuesday night and the Under 23s meeting with Southwick on Thursday both falling as Storm Diana hit Mid Sussex hard.
It’s been a better Friday weather wise over Hassocks and should that stay the same, then the pitch should be playable by Saturday afternoon. You can of course keep up to date with the latest breaking news by following the Robins Twitter and Facebook accounts which will have the details of any postponement first.
Hassocks will have their work cut out should the game go ahead. YMC are absolutely flying as they bid for a first Southern Combination League title since 2006 and a return to the Isthmian League for the first time since 2011.
They currently lead the way at the top of the table, four points clear of Newhaven having racked up 14 wins from 17 games so far with just three defeats.
Most concerningly from a Hassocks point of view will be the fact that they simply don’t drop points against sides lower down the table, with those three losses coming against third placed Chichester City, fourth placed Pagham and fifth placed Saltdean United.
Any side that isn’t in the top six they’ve swatted aside with consummate ease so far this season in the league, a fact that points to just what a difficult afternoon is in store for the Robins.
If that wasn’t bad enough, then Hassocks’ record against YM doesn’t exactly inspire confidence either. Hassocks have won just 11 times in 46 meetings with YM, losing 25.
There is the small crumb of comfort that this game takes place at the Beacon as the Robins record at Gorings Mead is even worse with just two league victories there since the turn of the decade.
One weapon that Hassocks do have in their armory is striker Phil Johnson, who returned to the Beacon this summer after two-and-a-half goal filled seasons with YMCA.
Everyone at Hassocks knows only too well Johnson’s liking for scoring against his former clubs as the Robins were on the end of it more often than not during his time at Gorings Mead, so no doubt Mark Dalgleish will be hoping that his top scorer can repeat the trick here.
Johnson’s spot at the top of the scoring charts for YM has been taken by Dave Brown and he leads the way with 14 goals although in truth, Buckland’s side have goals all over the park, as you would expect from a side with 51 to their name already this season.
The game kicks off at 3pm at the Beacon and entrance is priced at £6 adults and £3 concessions with Under 16s going free. The Robins Bar will be open serving all your alcohol needs and the T Bar will be available for hot and cold food and drink.
For those planning on travelling by train, this a rare weekend in which there are no planned engineering works between Three Bridges and Brighton.
