Hassocks will have to wait a little longer to face Alfold in a first competitive fixture after the Robins’ trip to Alfold Recreation Ground was postponed for a fourth time.
Following weeks of relentless rain, puddles remained on the surface of the pitch which rendered it unplayable. It now seems likely that the clubs will meet for the first time at the Beacon rather than in Surrey, with Alfold set to make the journey to Hassocks on Saturday 14th March.
In November, kick off had been just 10 minutes away at Alfold Recreation Ground when a late deluge of rain hit the Surrey village, leaving the pitch waterlogged with both teams ready and waiting to start.
The tie was then rearranged for a Tuesday evening in December but that too fell by the wayside, as did the previous attempt to get the game played in January.
The postponement means that the Robins will have another Tuesday night fixture in late March or early April crammed into an already packed schedule.
They are currently due to play on three consecutive Tuesday’s starting on March 17th with rearranged fixtures away at AFC Uckfield Town and at home to Langney Wanderers and Little Common already fixed.
A date still needs to be found for the visit of Broadbridge Heath to the Beacon after that fixture fell to Storm Jorge at the weekend.
Hassocks haven’t kicked a competitive ball for over three weeks now. Their last match that managed to beat the weather came on Tuesday 11th February when goals in the final five minutes from Phil Johnson and George Galbraith-Gibbons completed a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down against Horsham YMCA to win 3-2.
The Robins should at least be guaranteed a game this coming Saturday. Lingfield had surrendered home advantage by switching the venue of Hassocks’ visit from Godstone Road to the Steyning Town’s 3G pitch at the Shooting Field.
Kick off for that one will now be at 5pm. Our website and social media channels will have updates about the new dates for both the Broadbridge Heath and Alfold games as and when we have them.
