RECORD BREAKING RUN ENDS FOR ROBINS IN THE MAGPIE’S NEST
It’s been a record-breaking run for Hassocks Under 23s in this season’s Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup, but sadly the journey came to an end at Plaistow Road against Loxwood.
Never before had the Hassocks reached the last eight of the competition, where they were beaten by a talented Magpies side who will now face Horsham for a spot in the Culver Road final.
The Robins had got here the hard way. Isthmian League side Three Bridges had been beaten on penalties before Dave John’s men had pulled out an equally impressive result in eliminating reigning Southern Combination League West Division champions Horsham YMCA at Gorings Mead.
That set up this meeting with Combined Counties League Loxwood. The tie had originally been due to take place at the start of December, but was understandably cancelled following the tragic death of Magpies player Suel Delgado on the Saturday before the game.
Winning the County Cup would provide a fitting tribute and Matt Dunningham’s goal gives Loxwood the chance of doing just that.
This was the first meeting between the two sides at Under 23 level since the 2015-16 season, when Loxwood’s development squad not only played in the Southern Combination League, but won it.
They had a seriously talent conveyor belt at Plaistow Road back the with a youth set up led by current Brighton Under 18s manager Mark Beard.
Loxwood contributed seven players to the Sussex Under 18s squad who made history by reaching the FA County Youth Cup Final against Liverpool.
Many of those also turned out for the development side, lifting the league title and turning Hassocks over twice on the way to doing so.
This game was much closer than those last meetings – and an entertaining one at that, especially in light of the fact that neither side had kicked a competitive ball for some time.
Hassocks’ last match action came on November 28th when they hammered Lancing 6-1; Loxwood’s absence from the pitch an even longer with the Magpies not having played since October 30th, over two months ago.
John made four changes from the side that convincingly defeated the Lancers, with three of the goal scorers from that game missing out.
Phil Johnson has returned to the first team fold after fully recovering from the broken leg which had ruled him out since August and Joe Bull was also missing.
Perhaps most detrimental of all was the absence of top scorer George Galbraith-Gibbons, who dropped to the bench. Under 18s goalkeeper Toby Fisher was the final change, his place being taken by Charlie Pugh.
Kieran Dimelow, Lewis Westlake and Harvey Enticknap were the three other faces coming into the side with Enticknap in particular looking forward to taking on his former club.
Over the course of 90 minutes, this was a game that really could have gone either way with Dunningham’s strike being the only thing that could separate the two sides.
The result leaves Hassocks still looking for their first piece of silverware at Under 23 level, although in fairness it was never likely to come in this competition.
A more realistic target is the League Cup. The Robins reached the semi finals last year and their bid to go one better starts on earnest in a week’s time away at Southwick.
Hassocks: Charlie Pugh, Thomas Jupp, Dan Turner, Max Donaldson, Ben O’Leary, Sam Cash, James Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Harvey Ransome, Kieran Dimelowe, Harvey Enticknap.
Subs: George Galbraith-Gibbons, Jake Atherton, Alfie Loversidge, Luke Marshall, Matt Denyer.
