Lingfield are the visitors to the Beacon for the second time this season on Saturday and Hassocks will be hoping for a much better result than the last occasion the two sides met in Mid Sussex.
David Dean’s side booked their place in the quarter finals of the Peter Bentley League Cup with a 3-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Tom Stead, Joel Alexander and Christoper Ransome.
That victory sparked a good run of form for the Lingers and they picked up seven points from their next three league games, including a highly credible 2-2 draw at home to Pagham.
Results like that are going a long way to ensuring that Lingfield are enjoying a relatively successful first season in the top flight of the Southern Combination League since the 2013-14 campaign.
At the end of that season, the FA forced them into the much more competitive Southern Counties East League along with Crowborough Athletic.
While the Crows took to life in what used to be the Kent League with ease, it was less of a smooth transition for Lingfield as they finished 17th in the table in a season of struggle.
As a result, they resigned from the Southern Counties and were allowed to return to the Southern Combination League, albeit in Division One for the 2014-15 season.
Three seasons later and they’ve won promotion back to the top flight, finishing in third spot last season behind champions Little Common and runners up Langney Wanderers.
Lingfield currently sit in 11th place in the table and with 40 points looking like a guaranteed safety mark, they’re over halfway to ensuring that this isn’t just a fleeting return to the Premier Division.
Their cause will no doubt be helped by the recent acquisition of Ben Bacon from Saltdean United. The former Robins striker arrived at the Sports Pavilion around a month ago from Hill Park and he’s already scored four times against Hassocks this season when the Tigers visited the Beacon August Bank Holiday Monday, marking him out as one to watch.
Lingfield are one of the few sides that Hassocks have faced in every division across the Southern Combination League, with 12 top flight meetings to date, two in the second tier and four down in Division Two.
A win for the Lingers would continue to improve their record against Hassocks. That October success took their victory total to five from 22 with the Robins triumphing on 12 occasions and the scores being level on a further five.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and under 16s go free. If you are travelling by train, please be aware that are again rail replacement buses between Brighton and Three Bridges.
