DERBY DAY DELIGHT FOR HASSOCKS WHO HAMMER HILL
It was derby day delight for Hassocks Under 18s as they continued their sensational start to the season with a 7-0 win over Burgess Hill Town.
Games in recent years at Under 18s level between these two Mid Sussex rivals have tended to be close affairs which – whisper it quietly – the Hillians have tended to edge. Which is why the result and the brutal manner in which it was delivered was so pleasing to everyone in the home camp.
Early days it may be, but this is shaping up to be quite the season for the Young Robins. Three wins from three, 20 goals scored and just two conceded – and all achieved without two of their most influential players spending much time on the pitch.
Alfie Loversidge and Jack Gardner have both established themselves in the Robins’ first team squad and so are having their game time carefully managed. Having started in the previous day’s 6-2 defeat at Eastbourne Town, they were given cameo appearances off the bench in the Under 18s derby day.
Not that they were missed. Lewis Beebee is another young player on the cusp of the senior set up and he led the way with four goals in a exemplary show of finishing.
There were three changes from the side who had hammered Steyning Town 6-1 at the Beacon a week previously. Cody Craig, Beau Howard, Luke Marshall all came into the starting XI with Josh Sprigg, Louis Thwaites and Charlie Jones missing out.
Sprigg and Thwaites both made appearances from the bench; Jones meanwhile was not involved at all. He too is a young player making an impression further up the club’s chain with the Under 23s. Marshall meanwhile had also tasted first team action 24 hours earlier alongside Loversidge and Gardner, coming off the bench at the Saffrons.
Joining Beebee’s four goal haul on the scoresheet were Bundy and Craig who were scoring for the first time in Hassocks colour. The other goal came from Archie Russell, notching his third in as many games since arriving at the Beacon in the summer.
There were only two yellow cards in a surprisingly mild mannered fixture, both going to Hassocks players. Beebee found himself in the book for the second week running and he was joined by fellow scorer Craig.
The result left the Robins top of the Southern Combination League Under 18 North Division table, ahead of Horsham YMCA and St Francis Rangers who also boast 100 percent records.
Hassocks now have a break from league action as attention turns to the Sussex Dennis Probee Under 18 Challenge Cup this Sunday. It is a competition which the Robins haven’t made much of a mark on in the past 20 years, although given the form they have kicked off the campaign in they will fancy changing that this time out.
Their first round opponents are Rottingdean Village with kick off at 11am at the Beacon. Entrance is free.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Harry Bundy, Alex Crawford, Luke Marshall, Kobe Dersley, Dan Llewellyn, Cody Craig, Archie Russell, Beau Howard, Archie Messent, Lewis Beebee.
Subs: Josh Sprigg, Louis Thwaites, Jack Gardner, Fraser Mears, Alfie Loversidge (used).
