December was a long month for Hassocks as they played six times in the space of three weeks but by the end of it, the Robins had significantly eased their relegation fears and were looking up the table with renewed vigour.
After picking up just one Premier Division win between the middle of September and the end of November, Hassocks entered the final throes of 2018 in low spirits but a battling performance away at promotion chasing Eastbourne Town in the month’s opening fixture hinted at what was to come.
The Saffrons was holding its annual charity day with supporters asked to make a bucket donation to Memory Lane, a local organisation who help provide social activities for those with dementia and their carers instead of paying for entry to the game.
The initiative resulted in the second-biggest ninth tier crowd across the whole country of 261 with a staggering £1060 raised as a result.
Those in attendance may have been in a charitable mood but that didn’t extend to the Hassocks players, who pushed their illustrious hosts all the way before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat on the Sunshine Coast.
Nothing separated the two sides going into half time before two quick-fire goals from the hosts early in the second half looked to have put them in control.
Sonny Dullaway opened the scoring with 49 minutes played and Marcus Goldsmith doubled the advantage five minutes later, leaving many home supporters believing that their side would go onto rack up a cricket score.
That wasn’t to be the case however as James Westlake pulled one back to set up a nervy final 25 minutes, by the end of which Town were hanging on slightly with the final whistle being greeted with relief among the home contingent.
Three days later and the Robins gave another good account of themselves against more quality opposition. This time, it was Bostik League South East promotion chasers Haywards Heath Town who provided as stern a test as possible in the third round of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
Shaun Saunders side’s 10-0 victory over Lancing in the previous round made particularly ominous reading for the Robins and many were predicting a similar cakewalk at the Beacon, especially given the 33 places that separated the two in the non-league pyramid.
Yet the casual observer wouldn’t have known such a gulf existed, with Heath being largely frustrated until opening the scoring through Byron Napper in the 67th minute and they didn’t look entirely sure of their spot in the last four until Max Miller added a third six minutes from time. In between those two, Melford Simpson also struck.
Four days later and the Beacon suffered a biblical storm yet remarkably the visit of Peacehaven & Telscombe not only went ahead, but was played through to a conclusion.
Other games across Sussex were either postponed or abandoned before they could finish as pitches began to resemble lakes, but the significant money that Robins have invested in drainage paid dividends as the pitch more than survived despite the car park being under water and the roads around the ground flooded.
Not that Hassocks were particularly grateful, a 4-0 defeat to the Tye meaning that the Robins probably wished the game had have fallen foul of the weather. Braces from Callum Hart and Curtis Ford did the damage.
That capitulation was a far cry from what was to come next as Mark Dalgleish saw his side take a shock point away at Premier Division leaders Chichester City, twice coming from behind to draw 3-3 at the Countrywide Gas Stadium.
It was an element of fortune that gave Chi the lead midway through the first half, a weak goal kick from Josh Green falling straight to the feet of Rob Hutchings who took full advantage of the Christmas gift by guiding the ball into the unguarded goal for 1-0.
There was nothing fortunate about Chi’s second which arrived 10 minutes later, Gicu Iordache scoring a goal of individual brilliance as the Chi striker danced around a couple of players before curing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Hassocks managed to pull one back five minutes before half time, a long ball forward catching the Chi back line cold with Phil Johnson running through to poke past the hesitant Jordan Matthews in the home goal for 2-1.
That was Hassocks’ first shot on goal and they scored with their second as well a minute before the break. Jake Lindsey’s tireless running earned the Robins a corner and the same player then swung in a perfect delivery which Harry Mills rose to met unmarked to ensure the sides went in level.
It was a goal of the highest quality that put Chi 3-2 ahead, Connor Cody finishing off a slick passing move which left Hassocks at sixes and sevens before the visitors’ task was made even harder when Dan Jacques saw red.
That should have been game over but the Robins weren’t done, rescuing an unlikely point when substitute James Littlejohn scored a replica of Iordache’s earlier strike by beating two men and bending the ball over Matthews and into the top corner for 3-3.
A bumper Boxing Day crowd of 206 packed into the Beacon for the visit of Lancing and they were treated to feisty and entertaining festive fare as Hassocks ran out 3-1 winners.
Jonathan Lansdale had given the Lancers a half time lead but second half goals from Liam Benson, Johnson and Lindsey completed an excellent morning of work for Dalgleish’s men.
They then rounded off December with another victory, this time at lowly Shoreham. Benson scored the only goal, showing quick reactions to stick out a foot and divert a Spencer Slaughter shot over the head of home defender Ben Kirk-Patrick who was guarding the post and into the top corner.
Hassocks were indebted to Green for their three points by the full time whistle, the Robins’ number one earning the man-of-the-match award for an unbelievable spell in which he pulled off five excellent saves in the space of a couple of minutes.
Firstly, he turned away a low shot from Ryan Carse and when Bradley Tighe’s clearance was returned into the box by Alfie Proto-Gates, Green was forced into an acrobatic stop to keep out Myers’ header.
From the resulting corner, McLennan rose like the proverbial salmon but somehow Green flew across his goal to get a fingertip onto the ball and turn it around the post.
The next corner was an equally good delivery. This time, it fell to Daley McLennan at the far post and his low volley was blocked by the feet of Green, who then recovered brilliantly to block George Olulode’s attempt from the rebound.
Benson’s two goals saw him voted as Player of the Month ahead of Phil Johnson who finished second for the fourth month running. Defender Will Broomfield rounded off the top three.
The Under 23s played only twice but they were two pivotal games against opponents who would end the campaign in first and third position in the West Division
A 1-1 draw with joint leaders Horsham YMCA left things as tight as ever at the top of the table, Connor Bradley’s equaliser cancelling out Christoper Maxted’s opener for YM which had arrived with virtually the last kick of the first half.
Hassocks followed that hard earned point up with a win away at East Preston a week later. Dan Huet gave EP an early lead before Max Willcox equalised right on the stroke of half time. A Matt Berridge double in the second half secured all three points for Nigel Pearce’s side.
The Under 18s played just once, exiting the Sussex Under 18 Cup in a 4-1 defeat against an outstanding AFC Varndeanians side with Harvey Ransome on target.
Last but by no means least, the Ladies made progress in two cup competitions of their own. A 5-1 win away at Anchorians saw them safely through to the quarter finals of the League Cup with Katherine Chappell and Jodie Johanson both netting braces.
The following week, the Robins eliminated Littlehampton from the Sussex Women’s Trophy with a 3-1 success. Chappell was again in the goals along with Billie Philpott and Kelly Rushworth.
