Glenn Murray watches on as Robins and Rangers play out Mid Sussex Derby day draw
For the second time this season, the spoils were shared between Hassocks Under 18s and one of their Mid Sussex rivals as the Southern Combination League Central Division continues to look more competitive than it has done for several years.
Two weeks previously, the young Robins had been drawing 5-5 in an absolute thriller against Burgess Hill Town with five different scorers on target – Oliver Parker-Williams, Archie Russell, Alfie Beck, Abir Chowdhury and Sam Geard.
The entertainment level was not quite so high when St Francis Rangers visited the Beacon, but it was still a well-fought encounter which finished 1-1.
Both Hassocks and Rangers were going well in the 2020-21 season before curtailment and the Robins have continued that form into the opening month of the new campaign, remaining unbeaten in all competitions so far.
St Francis have endured a slightly more difficult start and arrived at the Beacon having lost all three of their North Division matches, losing to the sides immediately below leaders Hassocks in the table – Steyning Town, Shoreham and Worthing United.
As everyone knows, form goes out of the window when local bragging rights are on the line and so it proved as Rangers gave what was commented upon as their best performance of the season.
Hassocks made two changes from their side who had won 3-2 away at AFC Varndeanians a week earlier. Jayden Dunkley returned in goal and he was joined in the starting XI by Louis Thwaites and Josh Trinick.
Dropping out were Joe Woodhouse who had to settle for a place on the bench and Jack Morris, who missed out completely. Oliver Parker-Williams was also named amongst the substitutes whilst there was a Hassocks debut from the bench for Muhammad Wilson.
It was Parker-Williams who got the Robins goal once he had been introduced, cancelling out a 20th minute opener for Rangers from James Lyon-Monk.
One interested observer was a certain Glenn Murray. It did not take long for Dave John to make his way over to speak to Brighton’s second highest-ever goal scorer and try and tempt him out of retirement.
Unfortunately, Glenn turned the offer down even though he was tempted by the prospect of paying £2 a week for training and getting the chance to enter a raffle every home game, which is impossible to win as Dave will make him leave his prize behind for the next draw.
As for the Under 18s, they take a break from league action next week to visit Eastbourne Borough in the Dennis Probee Sussex Under 18 Youth Cup.
The draw could not have been more difficult for the Robins, although they can take heart that the last Hassocks Under 18s side to face the Priory Lane outfit in this competition pulled off an almighty shock when winning 2-1 down on the Sunshine Coast in the 2017-18 season.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Max Beston, Harry Bundy, Jamie Douglass, Dan Llwellyn, Louis Thwaites, Sam Geard, Beau Howard, Alfie Beck, Josh Trinick, Archie Russell.
Subs: Oliver Parker-Williams, Joe Holland, Muhammad Wilson (used).
