Hassocks’ penultimate home game of 2019 – and with it the decade – sees Horley Town come to the Beacon for the second time this season with three very important Southern Combination League Premier Division points up for grab on this occasion.

The Clarets last visited back in September and to say it didn’t go too well for Hassocks would be a bit of an understatement. Anthony Jupp’s side ran wild, running out 6-1 winners to progress in the FA Vase with a display to which the Robins had no answer.

Horley began the season as something of an unknown quality, nobody quite knowing how they’d fare coming into the Southern Combination League for the first time following their sideways move from the Combined Counties.

Turns out the answer to that question is very well – so far. Horley spent last season playing in the Premier Division of the predominantly Surrey based league, securing a 10th placed finish.

Given that results in national cup competitions often point to the Combined Counties being stronger than the Southern Combination, some thought that Horley could be dark horses for a tilt at the title following the FA’s decision to force them into a new environment for 2019-20.

Those predictions have proven to be pretty accurate. They’ll arrive at the Beacon in sixth spot in the table with eight wins, two draws and four defeats to their name.

That record leaves Jupp and his players 12 points behind leaders Eastbourne Town, although they do have two games in hand; win both of those and they’ll be right on the coattails of the long-term leaders, who they also to happen to be playing on Tuesday night.

They’ll be confident of going into that encounter at the Saffrons with three points in the bag from their trip to Mid Sussex, given that Horley have won all three of our competitive meetings to date.

Along with September’s FA Vase disaster, Hassocks went down 2-0 at the New Defence on the opening day of the campaign. The other defeat came in the 2016-17 season and was again in the FA Vase as Town were easy 4-2 winners in the first qualifying round of the competition.

Having already faced Horley twice in the past four months, Hassocks will be well aware of the threat they post and in particular that of Kerran Boylan who has 12 goals in 16 appearances to his name so far, two of which came in the September meeting. Tony Halsey isn’t far behind on nine from 17.

Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and Under 16s go free. The Robins Bar will be open for supporters to enjoy a festive tipple and the T Bar will be serving hot food and drink.

Our award winning matchday programme will be on sale for the bargain price of £1 and if you haven’t yet done your Christmas shopping, there’s a raffle with a number of prizes, all of which would make excellent presents.