Another win for Robins sets up top of the table clash with Bears
Hassocks Under 23s extended their unbeaten start to the season to seven matches with a 3-0 victory over Alfold at the Beacon.
The result sets the Robins up perfectly for a trip to North Division leaders Broadbridge Heath next week, where something will have to give as neither side is yet to lose a game so far.
Hassocks named one of their strongest starting XIs of the season so far, including two new signings who will undoubtedly be in the first team picture once they get up to match fitness.
Lucas Tyrrell has joined the Robins from Peacehaven & Telscombe. Josh Hawkes meanwhile is a familiar face around the Beacon.
He returns for a third spell having most recently been at Loxwood alongside several other players who have since come back to Hassocks along with former Magpies boss Spencer Slaughter.
Hawkes and Tyrrell were two of three changes from the Robins side who eliminated Saltdean United 3-2 in the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup a week earlier.
Arthur Rawlingson also came into team with James Westlake and Josh Short missing out having played for the first team in the 3-0 defeat to Eastbourne United 48 hours earlier.
Sean McSwiney dropped down to a strong substitute bench which also included both last season and the current campaign’s top Under 23s scorers in Lewis Beebee and Jay Hudson respectively.
How long Hudson stays at the top of the charts remains to be seen as Slaughter has been in flying form since his return to Hassocks, rolling back the years to when he was one of the most feared goal scoring midfielders on the Southern Combination League circuit.
A brace here made it three goals in as many appearances for the Under 23s. Brad Sweetman will no doubt be hoping that Slaughter can bring that sort of record into the senior set up with Hassocks looking a little short of goals at the minute at first team level.
Slaughter got the party started when he opened the scoring with 20 minutes on the clock. Hassocks doubled their advantage through Tyrrell eight minutes before half time. Slaughter added his second and the Robins’ third just before the hour mark.
As pleasing as the three points to the Robins would have been the clean sheet. Harvey Parker’s shut out meant that Hassocks have now kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches.
If they can keep the Bears at bay at High Wood Hill Sports Ground, then top sot in the North Division could beckon.
Hassocks: Harvey Parker, Wes Tighe, Jordan Badger, Arthur Rawlingson, Harvey Ransome, Josh Hawkes, Jack Baden, Lucas Tyrrell, Ben Hicks, Spencer Slaughter, Jude Wallis.
Subs: Jay Hudson, Archie Russell, Louis Thwaites (used).
