Hassocks Under 18s delivered arguably the best performance and certainly their best result of the campaign so far as they hammered reigning Central Division champions Haywards Heath Town 6-1 at Hanbury Park.
The Heath ground staff did well to produce a pitch that was able to beat the weather – and the Robins were delighted that it did as they took local bragging rights in emphatic style.
Hassocks’ first team game at home to Horsham YMCA had fallen foul of the weather just over 12 hours earlier so it was a pleasant surprise that one of the club’s sides got to play on a sodden weekend.
The Robins made just one change from the side who had won 4-1 away at bottom side Shoreham a week previously as Yahya Azizi was replaced by Charlie Jones.
It was that result the previous week which arguably made this one so impressive. Hassocks had huffed and puffed to see off a Shoreham side bottom of the table with a record of played seven, lost seven, scored five, conceded 46.
And yet here they were blowing away one of their title rivals, although you suspect that both Heath and Hassocks will finish the campaign behind Mile Oak and quite possibly another mutual Mid Sussex rival in St Francis Rangers.
It was a morning to remember for Harrison Lees who helped himself to his second hat-trick of the season to move onto 15 goals from 12 appearances in the process.
Lees and Lewis Beebee are enjoying quite the battle for top scorers honours and Beebee himself grabbed a brace here.
That saw him climb onto 12 from nine outings, a record which surely would be even better had he not missed three games through suspension after receiving a straight red card in November’s Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup defeat to Burgess Hill Town.
Hassocks’ other goal came from Alex Crawford while Heath’s consolation was scored via an own goal from the Robins.
The victory sets Hassocks up nicely for next Sunday’s trip to Mile Oak, who are the only side in the Central Division still with a 100% record.
Oak have won five from five so far to sit a point behind leaders St Francis having played two games less. If Hassocks could upset the apple cart at Mile Oak Rec, it could blow the title race wide open.
Victory for Brad Sweetman’s side would put them three points ahead of Oak but their hosts would have three games in hand.
Crucially though, Oak are yet to visit the Beacon with that one currently pencilled in for the final game of the campaign – a potential title decider presuming Hassocks can keep winning and Oak slip up somewhere along the line.
That is admittedly a very big presumption – Oak have already accounted for Hassocks’ interest in the League Cup this season with a 3-2 success at the Rec in December, which just highlights the difficult task facing Sweetman and his players in a week’s time.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Harry Meredith, Alex Crawford, Luke Marshall, Jack Gardner, Harry Reep, Harrison Lees, Alfie Loversidge, Finlay McDermott, Lewis Beebee, Charlie Jones.
Subs: Oliver Charlesworth (used).
