The magic of the FA Cup comes to the Beacon as Hassocks host fellow Southern Combination League Premier Division side Langney Wanderers in the extra preliminary round of the competition.
And there will be some sort of history made in Mid Sussex. Hassocks are on their longest run without a victory in the FA Cup, a sequence stretching back to 2013 when Mickey Jewell’s side eliminated Dorking Wanderers in a first qualifying round replay.
Langney meanwhile have never won a game in the competition, having only recently become eligible to enter. A victory in the FA Cup would be another milestone in the ridiculously stratospheric journey that has taken them from the Lewes and District Sunday League in 2009 to step five of the English football league system in 2019.
Their remarkable rise hit new heights last season in what was their first ever campaign in the top flight of the Southern Combination League.
Their aim at the start was to survive and they did that with ease in the end, finishing in 15th spot and some 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
That was in part due to a blistering end of season run under the management of the wily Kenny McCreadie who remains at the helm at Priory Lane for this campaign.
McCreadie is an experienced operator at this level most notable for his time in charge of Hailsham Town and he’s built a talented squad for this season that has every chance of surpassing last year’s 15th placed finish.
They remain unbeaten in their two games so far and on Tuesday night produced what will probably still be the comeback of the campaign after the remaining 36 fixtures of the season.
Trailing 3-0 away at one of the title favourites Newhaven with just 23 minutes remaining, Wanderers somehow managed to leave the Trafalgar Ground with a point after a remarkable recovery to draw 3-3.
This is a side who don’t know when they are beaten and that means they’ll provide stern opposition here at the Beacon. In fact, it was only five months ago that we saw their never-say-die attitude for ourselves when Tyler Capon’s equaliser 10 minutes from time rescued a share of the spoils for Wanderers with a 2-2 draw from their trip to Mid Sussex.
Late goals were a bit of a running theme between the two sides last season actually with Jordan Badger heading home an 89th minute leveller in the previous meeting at Priory Lane which also finished 2-2.
There’s a lesson from those two fixtures there and that is make sure you stay until the end of today’s game, as who knows what will happen!
Those meetings remain the only two competitive clashes between the clubs, although they will become far more frequent opponents this year after the Peter Bentley League Cup draw threw them together at the second round stage, as well as the two league meetings to come.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions with Under 16s going free. The T Bar will be open for hot food and drink and the Robins Bar will have all your alcohol needs covered.
We’re also delighted to be welcome Sterling Financial Services to the Beacon as official match sponsors.
Sterling are a Burgess Hill based company who have over 25 years of property experience across Mid Sussex. We’d like to thank them for their fantastic support and hope they enjoy their day with us.
