Bradley brace beats Steyning to maintain Robins flying start
Two goals from Connor Bradley maintained Hassocks Under 23s excellent start to the 2021-22 season as they picked up a 2-0 success away at Steyning Town.
The result made it three wins and one draw from four matches, leaving the Robins second behind Broadbridge Heath in the table on goal difference.
Steyning named a strong side, including their first team captain and former Hassocks favourite Alex Gathern.
Even without Gathern, Hassocks knew they would be in for a tough test based on past experiences in this part of the world.
Several of the Robins’ squad had endured a chastening time on their last visit to the Shooting Field as part of the Under 18s who had lost 7-1 in the semi final of the Southern Combination Under 18 Supplementary Shield back in May.
The Barrowmen went onto win the competition, proving themselves to have one of the best youth sides in the county last season. They do development football well at Steyning.
That is what made this three points and a clean sheet so pleasing for Hassocks, who themselves named nine players to have started for the first team this season as the Robins continue their bold policy of pitching youngsters into senior football.
One of the biggest success stories so far has been Bradley, an elder statesmen who has been an Under 23s regular since the 2016-17 season.
Bradley has had to wait patiently for an opportunity to establish himself in the first team, which arrived this season.
There has been no looking back. Bradley scored his first senior goal away at Peacehaven & Telscombe 16 days ago and was one of the contenders for Hassocks’ August Player of the Month award.
He was available to the Under 23s for the first time this season here as Hassocks looked to get minutes under his belt to shake the ring rust from a recent suspension incurred following a red card in the 1-1 draw with Lingfield on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Brad Sweetman made six other changes from the side who had beaten Oakwood by the same scoreline a week earlier.
Sweetman himself donned the gloves at Tinsley Lane as Hassocks were without a recognised goalkeeper, a problem rectified this week by Jacob Campbell starting fresh from his senior debut against Roffey in the Peter Bentley League Cup 48 hours earlier.
Coming into the Robins’ starting XI alongside Campbell and Bradley were last season’s top scorer Lewis Beebee, Kieran Dimelow, Arthur Rawlingson and Charlie Tuck, returning from an injury sustained for the first team against Eastbourne Town.
Kobe Dersley, Jordan Badger, Josh Novis and Jude Wallis all missed the trip completely whilst Under 18s striker Archie Russell dropped down to the bench.
Hassocks: Jacob Campbell, Charlie Tuck, Arthur Rawlingson, Jack Baden, Harvey Ransome, Kieran Dimelow, Sean McSwiney, Connor Bradley, Ben Hicks, Lewis Beebee, Jay Hudson.
Subs: Wes Tighe, Louis Thwaites, Archie Russell, Jacob Kilkelly (used).
