FIERY FIXTURE GIVES HILL LOCAL BRAGGING RIGHTS
On paper, a Mid Sussex Derby against Burgess Hill Town looked like an excellent way to kickstart 2020 for Hassocks Under 18s.
But after 90 gruelling minutes of an enthralling and often firery fixture with their local rivals, the Robins weren’t so chirpy as they slipped to their second Southern Combination League Central Division defeat of the season.
The first of those came on the opening day and to another Mid Sussex outfit, St Francis Rangers inflicting a 3-1 defeat on Hassocks back in September.
That result saw Rangers top the early table, a position that they have maintained over the intervening four months. No disgrace in losing to them.
The Hillians though looked a much easier opponent on paper but as a great man – or was it Phil Wickwar – once said, football isn’t played on paper.
Hill came to the Beacon second bottom of the Central Division, although that is something of a false position. Due to Southwick’s withdrawal from the league, Hill had only had two results recorded, both of which were draws – which included being the only opponents to avoid defeat against Rangers after the two sides drew 4-4 at Colwell Road in September.
Once Hill have played their games in hand and caught up with the other sides in the section, they could well find themselves in the thick of the title race. Suddenly, any notions of an easy game could be dismissed – and so it proved as Brad Sweetman’s side went down 4-2.
Given that neither side had played for three weeks, they could have been forgiven for looking a little rusty. But almost from the first whistle this was a clash that ebbed and flowed from one end to the other with both teams clearly desperate to claim local bragging rights.
Hassocks manager Brad Sweetman named his strongest possible line up, making two changes from the side who had exited the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat at Mile Oak in their last outing. Toby Fisher returned in goal while Charlie Jones was back at the expense of Fraser Mears who missed out.
It was a profitable morning for Hassocks’ front two as both Harrison Lees and Yahya Azizi were on the score sheet. Lees now has 12 goals to his name and is pulling clear off Lewis Beebee in the race to finish top scorer; Azizi meanwhile has looked in good form since his return to the side in the middle of November and this was the fourth game in succession in which he has notched.
For the Hillians, Harry Warland scored twice with George Fyffe and substitute Faris Khalloqui also on target.
Referee Stuart McKenzie had a busy time of it as he flashed six yellow cards and one red in a game that harked back to 15-20 years ago when these two clubs had a bitter rivalry at youth team level.
Hassocks’ Luke Marshall was the player who saw red for two cautions. Alex Crawford joined him in the book. Hill meanwhile saw Will Blair, Harvey Juton, Alfie Marchant and Jude Wallis all shown yellow cards.
Hassocks: Toby Fisher, Luke Marshall, Charlie Jones, Alex Crawford, Oliver Charlesworth, Jack Gardner, Lewis Reep, Harrison Lees, Alfie Loversidge, Finlay McDermott, Yahya Azizi.
Subs: Harry Meredith, Jayden Dunkley (used).
