SUPER SIX AS ROBINS RATTLE ROFFEY IN SEASON OPENER
New division, same Hassocks Under 18s. The Robins may now be playing in the renamed North Division of the Southern Combination League, but they look determined to record another top two finish if their 6-1 opening day demolition of Roffey was anything to go by.
Hassocks finished as runners up in the old Central Division in 2018-19 and winners in 2017-18. They looked to have a decent shot of claiming second spot last time out until the season was curtailed as a ding-dong battle with local rivals St Francis Rangers raged with both Mid Sussex clubs hanging onto the coattails of Mile Oak.
The Central Division is now no more having been realigned on a northerly basis. As a result, the Robins have a glut of new opponents for 2020-21, including Crowborough Athletic, Horsham YMCA, Billingshurst , Crawley Down Gatwick and their hosts in this first game of the season, Roffey.
The last time that Hassocks competed in the North Division was as long ago as the 2005-06 campaign. That was quite a memorable year as a squad featuring future first team favourites Spencer Slaughter, Sam Fisk, Matt Amos, Laurence Robinson, Ian Simpson and Michael Bates went onto lift the league title.
If Brad Sweetman’s class of 2021 can have half the season – and supply a similar number of players for the senior set up—as those 2006 championship winners, then the future will look very bright indeed.
As is always the case with a new season of Under 18s football, there were plenty of new faces in the Hassocks ranks for the first game. Sweetman gave debuts to Harry Bundy, Kobe Dersley, Daniel Llewellyn, Archie Messent, Josh Sprigg and Louis Thwaites with Archie Russell and Own Parker making their first appearances from the bench.
Also in the starting line up where Jack Gardner and Alfie Loversidge, both of whom have made a decent impression in the first team over the opening few weeks of the season.
Loversidge gave a very lively performance after replacing Harvey Enticknap in the centre of midfield early in the second half as the Robins came from behind to beat Lancing 2-1 on Tuesday night. Gardner meanwhile had started at right back in the 3-1 FA Cup elimination against Isthmian League side Bedfont Sports less than 24 hours before the trip to Roffey.
It was another player who has been knocking on the senior door in pre-season who took the headlines at Bartholomew Way. Lewis Beebee had scored both of the Robins’ goals in the first team’s match against Upper Beeding which kicked off the friendly campaign a little over a month ago.
Beebee put hapless Roffey to sword with a sensational hat-trick, striking in the 24th, 57th and 71st minutes to continue where he left off from a 2019-20 campaign in which he notched 12 times from nine appearances.
Another regular Under 18s scorer joined Beebee in the goals as Yahya Azizi started his third season with Hassocks with a 69th minute strike from the bench. Azizi’s goal made it 4-1 after Sprigg netted the Robins’ second two minutes before half time, the debutant’s goal being sandwiched by Beebee’s first two.
The Hassocks scoring was rounded off by another debutant scorer in Russell who wrapped up the six with 75 on the clock. Arman Ahmed was on target for Roffey’s consolation, beating Jayden Dunkley in the Robins goal.
Hassocks next face Steyning Town at the Beacon this coming Sunday. Kick off is at 11am and entrance is free for anyone who would like to check out the Young Robins in action.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Harry Bundy, Jack Gardner, Louis Thwaites, Kobe Dersley, Daniel Llewellyn, Alfie Loversidge, Fraser Mears, Josh Sprigg, Archie Messent, Lewis Beebee.
Subs: Yahya Azizi, Owen Parker, Archie Russell (used).
