ROBINS TITLE HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD AFTER YM REVERSAL
Hassocks’ hopes of lifting their first ever Southern Combination Under 23 West Division title are hanging by a thread after they suffered a second consecutive league defeat.
In a fixture that has looked for weeks like it could be the deciding factor in where the championship goes, the Robins were beaten 2-1 away at current table toppers Horsham YMCA.
The result sends YM six points clear at the top of the table with just one game for them left to play. Hassocks still have two matches remaining, but they’re now relying on YM losing their final fixture away at Pagham and even then, Nigel Pearce’s side would need six points from clashes with East Preston and Arundel, two sides who have beaten them in the last three weeks.
It looks a tall order, especially with confidence looking low after last week’s 4-0 hammering against Arundel which came hot on the heels of a gut wrenching League Cup semi final defeat to EP.
Pearce responded to his sides hammering at Mill Road by making three changes. Josh Green was back in goal in place of 17-year-old Toby Fisher having missed the game on the banks of the River Arun. Kieran Wells and Joe Russell were the other players to come back in at the expense of Louie Derham and the absent James Oliver.
Two goals in the space of seven minutes midway through the first half did for Hassocks. Bradley Ross opened the scoring with 15 minutes on the clock and Leon Eales doubled the hosts advantage on 22.
Hassocks huffed and puffed after that with their dangerous front three of James Littlejohn, Max Willcox and Jake Lindsey all trying to get the Robins back into the tie.
It was Littlejohn who gave them hope and set up a nervey final third of the encounter when he pulled one back on the hour mark with his 22nd goal of the season.
Unfortunately for the Robins, that was the only effort they managed to register on the scoreboard as YM held on for a huge three points, giving them one hand on the trophy. For Hassocks now, all they can do is hope for a slip up.
Hassocks: Josh Green, Ellis Common, Kieran Wells, Joe Russell, Steve Bright, Matt Berridge, Connor Bradley, Harvey Enticknap, Jake Lindsay, Max Willcox, James Littlejohn.
Subs: Martin Ratcliffe, Will Glenn, Max Donaldson, Solly Ross, Louie Derham.
