Hassocks Under 23s are still looking for their first win of 2020 with their next opportunity to do so coming in a daunting trip to Southern Combination League West Division title chasers Pagham.
Having past the half way stage in the season, it looks like being a two horse race for the championship. Last season’s winners Horsham YMCA lead with 25 points from 10 games.
Pagham are three behind YM and although Lancing in third are just two behind the Lions, they have played three games more. Barring in a spectacular collapse in form from one of the two chief protagonists, you can probably discount the Lancers from the hunt.
The Lions of course are no strangers to slugging it out for titles. They were West Division champions in both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, beating Hassocks to the post in the second of those following a ding-dong battle which lasted right up until the final few weeks of the campaign, at which point Pagham pulled clear.
The Robins gained an element of revenge, completing the double over the Lions last season – although that still wasn’t enough to bring the silverware to Mid Sussex ahead of YM as the Robins’ wait for a first Under 23 title goes on.
Jake Lindsey and James Littlejohn got the goals in a 2-0 victory over Pagaham at the Beacon in September 2018. The sides then met at Nyetimber Lane on Valentines Day with Littlejohn again on target, this time alongside Matt Berridge as the Robins ran out 2-0 winners.
Those sort of results have proved elusive so far this season for Hassocks in a season dogged with inconsistency. They looked to be turning a corner as 2019 came to an end, eliminating YM from the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup and hammering Oakwood 5-1 and Lancing 6-1 in back-to-back fixtures.
A 2-2 draw with Arundel last time out followed a 1-0 defeat at Loxwood, meaning Hassocks haven’t won since dismantling the Lancers nearly 10 weeks ago. Pagham themselves were thrashed 6-0 by Lancing last week, a sign that this is a division in which any side can beat another on their day.
The weather hasn’t helped, with teams unable to build any sort of momentum as games have frequently been called off due to waterlogged pitches. As always, you can keep an eye on our social media channels for any updates in that regard for Wednesday night’s fixture.
Kick off at Nyetimber Lane is at 7.30pm for anyone making the journey west.
