HASSOCKS HIT SOUTHWICK FOR A BAKER’S DOZEN
It rained goals at Old Barn Way as Hassocks Under 18s scored 13 times to pick up their biggest win for 12 years.
Southwick were on the receiving end of the demolition, the hosts being unfortunate to catch the Robins on a day when they delivered their best performance of the season so far.
You have to go back to September 9th 2007 to find the last time a Hassocks side won by such a margin, a 15-0 win away at Newhaven.
Dave John’s squad that season was packed with talent, containing the likes of Phil Johnson, Jamie Hillwood, Nick Pitcher and Arni Kublickas who are still with the club today.
Also involved were the likes of Nathan Miles, Jack Simpson, Nathan Cooper, Adam Williams and Jamie Ingham who all went onto establish themselves in the first team at the Beacon after winning the Southern Combination Youth League Cup at the end of the campaign.
So by coming within two goals of delivering a record-win for Hassocks at Under 18 level, this year’s side have followed in the footsteps of some very good players. And if they go onto emulate half of what the class of 2008 achieved, then the future looks very bright indeed.
Hassocks are enjoying remarkable consistency in selection at the minute. Over the past few years, the Under 18s have chopped and changed week-from-week but Brad Sweetman was forced into only two changes from the side who scored eight times past Lewes Juniors in the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup seven days previously. Harry Meredith was suspended and Lewis Reep absent. Their places were taken by Luke Marshall and Charlie Jones.
Marshall marked his return with one of the goals, capping an interesting week for him. The previous Saturday, he’d finished second in the Supporters’ Man of the Match Poll for his performance in the first team’s 4-2 home defeat to Langney Wanderers.
Then on Thursday night he was sent off for the Under 23s as they lost away at Lancing by the same scoreline. Fast forward 72 hours and here he was on the score sheet and helping the Robins’ defence to their first clean sheet of the campaign.
Lewis Beebee enjoyed the most profitable morning in front of goal, scoring five times to more than double his tally for the season as he moved from four onto eight.
There was a hat-trick for Harrison Lees who maintained his record of having scored in every game so far and Freddie Gamblin notched a brace. Also on target were Alfie Loversidge and Charlie Jones, for whom it was a first goal in Hassocks colours.
The Robins will know that tougher tests lie ahead starting with a Mid Sussex Derby next week against reigning champions Haywards Heath Town, but after scoring 21 times in two games they’ll go into that one full of confidence. It should be a cracker.
Hassocks: Toby Fisher, Luke Marshall, Oliver Charlesworth, Charlie Jones, Alex Crawford, Freddie Gamblin, Jack Gardner, Harrison Lees, Alfie Loversidge, Finlay McDermott, Lewis Beebee.
Subs: Guy Underwood (used).
