Following last weeks chastening 6-0 defeat away at Broadbridge Heath, it doesn’t get any easier for Hassocks this weekend as they make the long trip west to take on title challengers Pagham.
The Lions currently sit fourth in the table, six points behind leaders Horsham YMCA but having played a game less than Peter Buckland’s table toppers.
This is nothing new. Over the past few seasons, Pagham have always looked like genuine title contenders in the first of the campaign before falling away in the second half and settling for top five finishes rather than challenging for silverware.
It looks like it could be different this time however. With five sides currently looking capable of winning the league, the Lions have already claimed some big points with a victory over YM under their belts and a morale boosting FA Cup success against Newhaven on the board.
They’ll fancy their chances of taking three points at Nyetimber Lane on Saturday given the recent history of the fixture.
Not since Mickey Jewell’s side hammered Pagham 6-1 at the Beacon in the 2013-14 season have Hassocks defeated Pagham – in fact, they’ve only taken one point from them in the past five seasons courtesy of a 0-0 draw last time the sides met in the Lion’s den.
The overall head-to-head reads 24 Pagham wins to the Robins 12 while there have been nine draws. The most recent clash saw the Lions secure third place with a 3-0 win at the Beacon in the last game of last season.
That result also condemned Hassocks to their lowest finish since 1994, leaving them in the relegation zone – a fate from which the Robins only escaped due to ground grading.
There could be a familiar face in the Pagham line up, with forward Jack Rowe-Hurst now plying his trade at Nyetimber Lane.
Rowe-Hurst had begun the campaign at Lancing but made the switch to the Lions a month or so ago. He enjoyed a brief 15 game spell at the Beacon in the second half of the 2016-17 season after joining from Burgess Hill Town, scoring two goals in 15 appearances before departing that summer for Ringmer.
Rowe-Hurst won’t be the only threat that Hassocks have to worry about. Diminutive striker Scott Murfin always seems to score against the Robins while the Lions can also call upon the services of George Gaskin, another regular name on the score sheet whenever he comes up against Hassocks.
Kick off on Saturday will be at 3pm.
