Robins face seven games before the end of September in action packed start
Hassocks Under 23s kick off their Southern Combination Under 23 North Division campaign looking to build on a strong showing in April’s Supplementary Shield.
The Robins finished third in Group B, picking up some impressive results including a win away from home at Horsham YMCA, one of the best development squads in the league over the past three seasons.
Brad Sweetman will combine his duties as first team head coach by also leading the Under 23s, helped by his first team assistant Jordan Wilson and Matt Hicks.
Pre-season has seen Hassocks go through three friendlies against Mid Sussex Premier Division sides unbeaten. The Dan Jacques Derby with Lindfield ended in a 2-2 draw, Jack Baden and Sam Geard on target for the Robins.
Hassocks then produced an impressive comeback, recovering from 3-1 down to beat Balcombe 6-3. Jake Atherton, Tom Jupp, Tristan Hayes, Jay Hudson and two from Jude Wallis doing the damage. Cuckfield Rangers were the visitors in the final friendly with Hudson netting the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win.
The real action gets underway against Crowborough Athletic on Thursday 19th August with a 7.45pm kick off at the Beacon.
It is a tough start to the season, the Crows having enjoyed a decent first campaign in the division in 2020-21, including when beating the Robins 1-0 at the Crowborough Community Stadium in October.
A week later and a trip to Horsham YMCA beckons. YM were top of the North Division when both 2019-20 and 2020-21 were curtailed and won the title the last time a season was completed in 2018-19.
It was something of a shock then when the Robins triumphed in the last meeting between the sides, winning 5-2 at Gorings Mead in April’s Supplementary Shield competition.
Lewis Beebee grabbed a brace with Sam Geard and Luke Marshall also on target in Hassocks’ most impressive win of last season.
September kicks off with away games against Oakwood and Steyning Town on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 9th respectively.
Oakwood have been regular opponents over the past couple of years, the last meeting between the sides ending in a 2-1 Hassocks victory in October thanks to two goals from George Galbraith-Gibbons.
The last time Hassocks faced Steyning at Under 23 level was in 2017-18, when Nigel Pearce’s side racked up two big victories, winning 5-1 at the Beacon and 5-0 at the Shooting Field.
A first ever Under 23s match with Roffey follows at the Beacon on Thursday 16th September with the month rounded off by a trip to Loxwood on the 23rd and a Mid Sussex Derby with St Francis Rangers on the 30th.
Any support that you can give will be greatly appreciated over the next six weeks, especially with so many young players currently progressing from the Under 23s into the senior side. Admission for all home games at the Beacon is £3 for adults and £1 concessions.
