Hassocks take on Saltdean under the lights at Hill Park
Hassocks will kick off their 2021-22 Southern Combination League season a little over 72 hours later than planned with a trip to Saltdean United.
Torrential rain 90 minutes before kick off on Saturday afternoon meant that the match officials postponed the Robins’ scheduled Premier Division opener with Broadbridge Heath with the Beacon covered with standing water.
As a result, Brad Sweetman faces a much tougher test in his first game as head coach against a Tigers sides who were top of the table before the 2020-21 campaign was curtailed.
Saltdean have managed to hold onto most of the squad that took them towards the summit for the new season. They laid down a very clear marker for the year ahead at the weekend, winning 3-0 away at AFC Uckfield Town.
Kieran Pamment scored once in either half at the Oaks and Harry Shooman was also on target in a comfortable win which should have the Tigers roaring with belief ahead of Hassocks’ visit to Hill Park.
Saltdean United last season
The Tigers were the outstanding side in the Premier Division in the first half of last season, sitting in first place having dropped only five points prior to the season coming to an early end.
Worryingly for the rest of the top flight, they have kept the same group of players at Hill Park this season. Glance through their squad list and you see names like Pamment, Thomas Caplin, Trevor McCreadie, Callum Saunders, Ryan Warwick and Joe Shelley – all serial winners on the Southern Combination League circuit.
There will also be a familiar face in goal for United. James Broadbent has swapped Peacehaven & Telscombe for Saltdean and no Hassocks fan needs reminding of what an excellent player he is, having claimed a clean sweep of Players’ Player, Managers’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season awards at the Beacon in the 2016-17 season
Saltdean United v Hassocks head-to-head
There have been 29 meetings between Hassocks and Saltdean. The Tigers lead the way in the head-to-head having won 14 times compared to 12 wins for the Robins, leaving just three draws.
Six of those Hassocks victories came in six Division One matches when the Robins used to dominate the fixture, scoring 19 goals and conceding just four during the 90’s.
Recent clashes do not make for such a pretty picture. Hassocks have not beaten United since the Tigers were promoted to the Premier Division for the 2017-18 season.
You have to go back to 2001-02 to find the last time the Robins defeated Saltdean, a 4-2 success at the Beacon. Hassocks also eliminated United from the Sussex Senior Cup that year via a 5-3 home win.
Last time Hassocks played Saltdean United
Both sides were desperate for points in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier Division back in February 2020. Most of those in attendance at Hill Park were probably therefore expecting a cagey affair but it was actually an entertaining and open contest which ended 1-1.
Saltdean top scorer Dan Perry put the Tigers 1-0 ahead on 18 minutes but they only led for 10 minutes before Alex Spinks crashed home his first Hassocks goal after a Dan Turner long throw caused chaos in the home box. Both sides had chances to win it after that, but in the end the spoils being shared was the correct result.
How to get to Hill Park
Take the A259 coast road towards Eastbourne from Brighton. Immediately before Saltdean Lido, take a left into Arundel Drive, following it around the park and up into the Saltdean estate. Hill Park is at the end of the road.
