Hassocks make their point from their stay at the YMCA
Although very early days, this 1-1 draw for Hassocks Under 23s away at Horsham YMCA in the second game of the Southern Combination League North Division season is likely to be a really good point for the Robins.
YMCA have been the outstanding side in the section over the past three years. They were top when both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons were curtailed.
The last time the North Division was played to a finish in 2018-19, they pipped Nigel Pearce’s Hassocks side to the title thanks to a blistering end-of-year run of form after the Robins had led the way for much of the campaign.
It came as something of a shock then when Hassocks won 5-2 at Gorings Mead in the Supplementary Shield back in April. Four months later and the Robins proved that result was no fluke, picking up an excellent draw to maintain their unbeaten start.
Having hammered Crowborough Athletic 4-1 a week previously, Hassocks have now played two of the stronger teams in last season’s North Division and have four points out of a possible six to show for their efforts.
Brad Sweetman shuffled his pack as there were five changes from the side who had crushed the Crows. Coming in were Jayden Dunkley, Tom Jupp, Lexx Lucas and Luke Marshall, all of whom have been involved with the senior set up already in 2021-22. The other new face was Louis Duckering.
Missing were Charlie Pugh, George Mercer, Kobe Derseley and Jay Hudson – absent after being rewarded for his four-goal haul against Crowborough with a first team start in Tuesday night’s 3-2 defeat at Peacehaven & Telscombe. Wes Tighe was the final outgoing change, dropping down to the bench.
The deadlock was broken in a close-fought game by YM, Ryan Baldwin putting the hosts 1-0 ahead four minutes after the half hour mark.
Hassocks chose the perfect time to equalise, Archie Russell levelling things up two minutes before the interval with his first goal at Under 23 level.
Russell netted 12 times from 11 matches for the Under 18s last season to finish second in the scoring charts to Lewis Beebee.
Beebee’s elevation to the senior setup for the current campaign should pave the way for Russell to have greater opportunities in the Under 23s and based on his goal against YM, he looks well placed to take them.
Neither side was able to find a winner in an entertaining second half. The spoils being shared was arguably the correct result come the end of the day.
Hassocks face another trip north in their next fixture, taking on Oakwood at Tinsley Lane next Wednesday night.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley; Zac Kladdis, Luke Marshall, Tom Jupp, Kobe Dersley, Jack Baden, Lexx Lucas, Sean McSwiney, Jude Wallis, Ben Hicks, Archie Russell.
Subs: Arthur Rawlingson, Wes Tighe, Brad Sweetman, Louis Thwaites.
