Another defeat but young Robins learning by the week
The last time Eastbourne Town came to the Beacon in January 2020, Hassocks suffered a club record heaviest home defeat in senior football when losing 7-0.
Things were not much better when the Robins last travelled to the Saffrons either, Town running out 6-2 victors a year ago. To say Hassocks have not enjoyed recent meetings with the yellow half of Eastbourne would be a slight understatement.
So although Town left Mid Sussex with all three points on their latest visit, Hassocks could at least take heart from the fact it only finished 2-1 and that they gave visitors who will surely be involved in the battle for the Premier Division title this season a bit of a fright.
You would have got long odds on that when Town took the lead inside of one minute through Aaron Hopkinson. The home faithful were no doubt fearing the worst at that point, especially as a similarly early goal at Saltdean United 11 days previously had paved the way for a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the Tigers.
This young Hassocks side are learning by the week, however. In some ways, such a daunting set of August and early September fixtures against the likes of Saltdean, Eastbourne Town, Steyning Town, Lingfield and Newhaven who all remain unbeaten so far might be a blessing in disguise.
What it is doing is forcing the Robins to grow up fast. You can see that in the steady game-to-game improvement over the three matches that they have played under new head coach Brad Sweetman so far.
They should be all the better for the experience of facing the best teams that the Southern Combination League has to offer by the time they face a gentler run of games once the first six weeks are out of the way.
Another positive to take was that this performance came off the back of a heart breaking FA Cup defeat against Spelthorne Sports. Hassocks led for 83 of the 96 minutes played until two goals in second half injury time from the Combined Counties Premier outfit turned the tie on its head.
The Robins could have been forgiven for suffering from a hangover after losing in such a manner. They showed no signs of knocked confidence though, instead giving a showing that was indicative of a determination to bounce back.
Sweetman made four changes from the starting XI who came so close to booking a place in the next round of the world’s greatest cup competition.
In defence, Andy Whittingham returned to captain the Robins on his 100th appearance for the club in place of the absent Max Blencowe, an impressive debutant against Spelthorne.
Charlie Tuck came in for his first start of the season as Lexx Lucas missed out and there was a new-look front pairing, Tristan Hayes making his full debut alongside Joe Bull.
Hopkinson hit his opener before a number of the crowd had left the Clubhouse but that proved to be the only goal of an evenly matched first half.
Both Christian Kiddell and his opposite number Chris Winterton showed good handling to deal with a couple of aerial deliveries into their boxes from set pieces.
One of Hassocks’ free kicks was earned by the outstanding Josh Short, Tom Vickers deciding that the only way he could halt a driving run from the Robins midfielder was illegally. Vickers was booked for his troubles.
Short survived that heavy challenge but unfortunately the same could not be said for Tuck, who suffered a nasty coming together with James Hull. Tuck was unable to continue, his place in midfield being taken by Jack Baden.
As the half wore on, Bull began causing problems for the Town defence whilst Alfie Loversidge defied his diminutive statue by nearly beating Winterton to a Jack Gardner cross.
Town’s second goal arrived 12 minutes into the second half via Leon Greig but if the visitors thought that would open the floodgates for them to rack up their normal big victory against Hassocks, they were to be sorely mistaken.
There was only one more goal in the game and it went the way of Hassocks. Short was the scorer, his first for the club richly deserved not just for his man-of-the-match performance on the day but for an outstanding start to the season in which he has established himself as one of the Robins’ most important players.
Hassocks: Christian Kiddell; Arthur Rawlingson, Luke Marshall, Andy Whittingham; Bradley Tighe, Josh Short, Charlie Tuck, Alfie Loversidge, Jack Gardner; Joe Bull, Tristan Hayes.
Subs: Jack Baden, Ben Hicks, Jude Wallis (used), Jack Troak, Zac Kladdis (unused).
