Hassocks Under 23s are back at the Beacon as they look to kick start their season against West Division newcomers Worthing United.
It’s been something of a stop-start campaign so far for Dave John’s Robins. Their form book reads lost-won-lost-won-lost from their five games to date as inconsistency happens their attempts to challenge at the right end of the table.
That is to be expected though with such a young team. Aside from the Benjamin Button strike partnership of Liam Benson and Louis Pople who have started the past two games together, John is relying on players aged 19 and younger mainly with the core of those coming from the squad he led to an unprecedented treble as Under 18s manager in the 2017-18 campaign.
There were always likely to be teething problems with the step up to Under 23 football. United themselves are going through similar as this is the first season that they’ve entered a side at this level of football for two years.
The Mavericks have lost all five of their games so far, although every single has one has been a goal filled affair which is a pretty good reason to get along to the Beacon for this one.
United have scored 10 goals at an average of two a game, more than six of the division’s other 10 teams despite the fact they sit bottom of the pile.
The problems have been at the other end, where 24 have flown at an average of nearly five a game. It’s little wonder that they’re earning themselves a reputation for being the sections’s great entertainers.
That was also the case that Hassocks lost crossed swords with United last time they were in the division in the 2017-18 season.
A 3-3 draw at the Beacon in mid-April did the Robins’ hopes of catching leaders Pagham no good. The goals that evening came from Max Willcox, George Galbraith-Gibbons and Connor Bradley.
Three months before that, Hassocks had triumphed 4-2 at the Robert Albon Memorial Ground. Kieran Rowe netted twice with Keeley Johnson and Ben O’Leary both scoring their only goals of the season.
You can see if this encounter can match up to those with kick off at the Beacon at 7.45pm. Entrance is priced at £3 for adults with concessions going free and both the Robins Bar and the T Bar will be open.
