Following the decision by the Football Association to curtail the 2020-21 Southern Combination League season, Hassocks will complete their campaign in the Supplementary Cup set up by the league to give teams six fixtures across April and May.
All of the Robins’ matches will be played away from home. The club took the decision to use the cancellation of the regular season to begin planned pitch maintenance work early, meaning that the Beacon is unavailable as improved drainage has been installed.
The Premier Division Supplementary Cup has seen those teams wanting to compete split into four groups of four. Hassocks have been paired in Group 3 with Crawley Down Gatwick, Lingfield and Horley Town, a tough set of fixtures given all three opponents were placed higher than the Robins’ in 12th when competition ceased in December.
Hassocks will kick off the competition at Crawley Down on Saturday 10th April 2021. The Robins then travel to Horley on Tuesday 13th and Lingfield on Saturday 17th. The fixtures then repeat themselves with a trip to Crawley Down on Tuesday 20th, Horley away on Saturday 24th and Lingfield again on Tuesday 27th.
The top team from each group will go through to the semi finals. Should Hassocks finish top of their section, then they would face the winners of Group 2, one of Pagham, Steyning Town, East Preston or Lancing.
Currently, no supporters can attend in line with government guidelines. Full coverage will however be available across Hassocks’ media channels as the Robins try to end what was on course to be the club’s best season since 2013-14 on a high.
The Under 18s will also have their own Supplementary Cup competition. Hassocks have been placed in Group 3 alongside Alfold, Horsham YMCA, Saltdean United and St Francis Rangers. Each club will face each other once with the winners going onto the semi finals.
Hassocks begin their campaign on Sunday 4th April away at Alfold. The Robins then travel to Horsham YMCA on Sunday 18th, St Francis on Sunday 25th and Saltdean on Sunday 2nd May. If Hassocks top their Group, they will take on one of AFC Uckfield Town, Bexhill United, Eastbourne Town, Montpelier Villa, Newhaven or Seaford Town in the last four.
Brad Sweetman’s side had been top of the North Division when the season was curtailed with six ones and a draw from their seven fixtures. Just like the senior team, they too face a tough group as Alfold had won five of five and both Horsham YMCA and St Francis had records of four wins and one defeat from the five games they completed.
