After FA Cup, FA Vase and Sussex RUR Charity Cup commitments, Hassocks get back to the bread and butter of league football with a tough looking game against Lingfield at the Beacon.
The Lingers underlined what a quality side they are on their day as they started the season with two big results, hammering East Preston 3-0 at the Lashmar in their opening game before dispatching of Eastbourne United 6-0.
Given all the talk that had come out of the Oval about United being dark horses for the title, that was a result that really made the rest of the Premier Division sit up and take notice – so much so that former United chairman Billy Reed offered to refund all the visiting supporters for their entry to the Sports Pavilion.
It’s been a little bit more of a struggle since then however, not helped by a run of fixtures that has been nearly as tough as Hassocks’ past few Premier Division games.
One thing that is sure to help Lingfield out of their recent rut is the goals of Ben Connolly, who has been one of the league’s deadliest marksman so far with nine to his name. The Robins back line could be in for a testing afternoon if Connolly brings his shooting boots with him.
David Dean and his squad will have mixed memories of their visits to the Beacon last season, having twice come to Mid Sussex; once in the Premier Division and once in the Peter Bentley League Cup.
That cup meeting saw the Lingers run out easy 3-0 winners with goals from Thomas Stead, Joel Alexander and Christopher Ransome.
Fast forward a month and it was a much better afternoon from a Hassocks point of view. On that occasion, a Phil Johnson double and a late goal from Jake Lindsey just about secured a 3-2 win with the visitors’ responses coming from Callum Ridley and Jake Horn.
Overall, it’s Hassocks that lead the head-to-head with 13 wins from 24. Lingfield have won six with last season’s exploits helping to close the gap; as well as that Peter Bentley Cup win, they triumphed 1-0 at the Sports Pavilion in March. That result helped them on their way to an eighth place finish, the second highest they’ve ever recorded.
Part of the Lingers squad last season – albeit rather briefly – was Hassocks striker Ben Bacon, who signed for Dean’s outfit in between spells with Saltdean United and Three Bridges.
Bacon has a good record when it comes to netting against his former clubs – he scored four times for Saltdean at the Beacon last season – and Hassocks will be hoping he can find the net as look for what would be three very welcome points.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is £6 adults, £3 concessions and Under 16s go free. Hot food and drink and alcohol is available throughout the afternoon and our award winning matchday programme can be purchased for the bargain price of £1.
