It’s Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division leaders against the reigning champions this Thursday night as table topping Hassocks have a tough looking trip to Nyetimber Lane to take on Pagham.
The Lions won the league title by a clear six points from the Robins in second place, their second successive championship as they confirmed their place as the dominant side in Under 21 football as it was then.
They’ve not been able to hit those heights this season however and currently sit sixth in the table with six wins, five defeats and a draw from their 12 games so far in what has proven to be an inconsistent campaign.
Pagham have rung up some big wins, hitting six past Southwick twice and four past Mile Oak and Arundel but have come unstuck against the sides towards the top of the table.
That included a 2-0 defeat at the Beacon when the sides last met at the end of September. Both the goals came in the second half for the Robins that night, Jake Lindsey just before the hour mark and James Littlejohn in the final 10 minutes.
The Robins’ success that night was their first ever over Pagham at this level of football. The Lions had completed a league double last season, winning 3-2 when the sides met in October 2017 as goals from Connor Bradley and Matt Berridge proved to not be enough for Hassocks on the long trip west.
It was then at the Beacon when Pagham confirmed their title, triumphing 3-1 with Jake Booth getting the Hassocks consolation.
Kick off at Nyetimber Lane on Thursday is at the slightly earlier time of 7.30pm.
