It’s been a long time since Hassocks last beat Pagham who provide the latest opposition at the Beacon this Saturday as the Southern Combination League season enters the final straight.
You have to go back to the 2013-14 season to find the last time that the Robins managed to take the Lions and pick up three points against an outfit who have become a real bogey side for them over the past six years or so.
It was at least a big win that day. Goals from Anthony Hibbert, Dan Jacques, Zak Dove and a Phil Gault hat-trick gave Mickey Jewell’s side a brilliant 6-1 victory over Pagham in what was probably their finest performance of the campaign.
Since that February day, Hassocks have met Pagham on 11 occasions and all they have to show for their efforts is a solitary point gained from a 0-0 draw at Nyetimber Lane last season.
The most recent fixture was in November and went the way that the majority of them have gone, Pagham scoring a glut of goals as Callum Overton netted a hat-trick with George Gaskin scoring twice for the Lions in a 5-2 win.
The Robins consolation goals came late in the day, Jake Lindsey and Jordan Badger doing their best to make the score line a little bit more respectable by scoring in the final seven minutes.
Back then, it looked like the Premier Division title battle would be a two-horse race between the Lions and neighbours Chichester City.
But Pagham’s form tailed off remarkably after that success and they’ve won just three of their past 15 league games to slip as far down the table as 10th.
As a result, they now look like they have a battle on their hands for a top half finish and their interest in knockout competitions was ended at the start of February after a 2-1 RUR Charity Cup quarter final defeat to AFC Uckfield Town. In some respects, that makes this a typical Pagham season as they tend to start campaigns strongly before fading away.
Given the Lions complete domination of this fixture, they’ll no doubt be expecting to get their campaign back on track by picking up all three points today.
And Hassocks will know that, despite their visitors struggles, they will need to be at their very best to take something against a side who have held a hoodoo over them for a long time now.
The Robins have one player in their squad who knows a little bit about this Pagham line up. Jack Rowe-Hurst had a brief spell at Nyetimber Lane earlier in the season in between his time with Lancing and Shoreham before returning to the Beacon a month or so ago.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and under 16s go free. The Robins Bar will be open serving beer and the T Bar has all your hot food and drink and most importantly, cake needs covered.
There are no reported problems with the Brighton to London Main Lane so those traveling by train can expect a decent service. The Beacon is about a 10 minute walk from the station.
