There was a seven goal thriller at the Beacon as Hassocks Under 18s had just about enough to see off the challenge of Upper Beeding in the Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division second place play off.
This unusual scenario came about due to the league decreeing that positions can’t be decided by goal difference. With Steyning Town, Upper Beeding and the Robins all finished the regular season on 31 points, which meant that a play off situation was required to decide who receives the runners up medals.
Steyning unfortunately had to pull out as they were unable to guarantee being able to field a side for two additional games at such late notice, leaving Hassocks and Beeding to face off in what proved to be an extraordinary final game at the Beacon of 2018-19.
All looked to be going well for the Robins as they led 2-0 approaching half time thanks to goals from Finlay McDermott and Yayha Azizi, only for Beeding to pull one back just before the interval.
That led to a complete momentum switch for the second half and it wasn’t long before the visitors levelled things up by making it 2-2.
Hassocks dug deep though and Brad Sweetman’s side showed great character to come roaring back, Alfie Loveridge putting them into a 3-2 lead which they held right up until the death when Beeding again showed they don’t know when they are beaten by equalising with minutes to spare.
That sent the tie into extra time and despite the addition of an energy sapping extra 30 minutes, both sides continued to go hammer and tongs at each other until Loveridge notched his second and Hassocks’ fourth of the evening.
Given Beeding’s penchant for launching late comebacks, nobody in red was breathing easily until the final whistle blew to confirm a 4-3 victory for the Robins and their place as Central Division runners up.
With many of Sweetman’s squad still eligible for at least another year of youth football, hopes will be high about what this group can achieve going forward.
Jack Baden, Toby Fisher and Kieran Dimelow have already made their first team debuts and Tristan Hayes and Harvey Ransome both turned out for the Under 23s this season.
The result capped off a fine year for Hassocks as a whole with the Under 23s also finishing runners up in the West Division and the Ladies completing a league and cup double.
