RYDER THE DIFFERENCE AS HASSOCKS PUSH THE CHAMPIONS CLOSE
The top two from last season’s Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division met at Gorings Mead and it was familiar story as champions Horsham YMCA defeated runners up Hassocks.
Eight points separated the sides last season, but in reality the title race was actually much closer than that final margin suggests.
The two sides were pretty much neck-and-neck right up until the middle of April. And while Hassocks managed to pick up only one point from their final five games, YM embarked on an imperious run with their first championship at Under 23 level being all but confirmed when they defeated the Robins 2-1 as part of their end-of-season charge.
It was the same score line on this occasion, although Hassocks in particular have a very different look about them this year.
In fact, not one of the 13 players used by Dave John here featured in either of the league games between the two last season, the first of which ended 1-1 at the Beacon back in December.
In the Robins’ previous game, a 2-1 win away at Broadbridge Heath a fortnight previously, John had named a starting line up with only one player over the age of 19.
He had a bit more experience to call upon here as Nick Pitcher returned from injury alongside two familiar faces making their first appearances at this level for a couple of years.
Liam Benson led the line for the Under 23s for the first time since 2017 as he seeks to build up match fitness following his recent return to the Robins from a brief spell at Steyning Town.
It turned out to be a good night for Benson as he scored Hassocks’ goal on 35 minutes, no doubt pushing himself into the reckoning for a first team start when Horley Town come to Mid Sussex in the FA Vase in two days time.
Meanwhile in goal, Reece Wickwar was back in a Hassocks shirt having last played for the club in the 2015-16 campaign.
His return was necessitated by James Earl making his first team debut 48 hours previously in the 2-1 defeat against Broadbridge Heath.
Earl impressed at High Wood Hill and with regular number one Josh Green away for Saturday’s clash with Horley, the 18-year-old now has an opportunity get a run of games under his belt at senior level.
Wickwar, Pitcher and Benson came in for Earl, Joe Russell and Joe Tatford with John making one other change to the side who’d delivered three points against the Bears, Harvey Ransome being handed his first start in place of Thomas Jupp.
YM were struck a blow early on when Leon Eales exited the action after just 11 minutes. Eales had scored the winner in that April meeting but any hopes that the Robins might have had that his departure would lead to an easier evening where dashed when they saw the identity of his replacement, former Hassocks first team forward Jake Lindsey who moved to Gorings Mead in the summer.
Benson’s goal was part of a dogged performance from the visitors and they came close to leaving with a point. Ultimately, the difference proved to be YM’s Jack Ryder who struck in the 35th and 73rd minutes to ensure that the three points stayed with the champions.
Hassocks: Reece Wickwar, Solly Ross, Nick Pitcher, Dan Turner, Ben O’Leary, Joe Bull, Jack Gardner, Kieran Dimelow, Harvey Ransome, George Galbraith-Gibbons, Liam Benson.
Subs: Jake Atherton, Matt Denyer (used).
