Short and Slaughter send Robins to rare County Cup success
Hassocks Under 23s have never done particularly well in the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup, only ever winning two games in the competition – and both of those came in the same season.
That was in the 2019-20 campaign, when the Robins embarked on a memorable run to the quarter finals.
A 3-2 first round win over Saltdean United will have given everyone at the Beacon hope that they can emulate that achievement this time around.
Hassocks have been flying in the North Division so far, sitting in second place behind Broadbridge Heath on goal difference following an unbeaten start.
This victory extended that record to five wins and one draw from their opening six matches. 13 goals have been scored and only four conceded with the two the Tigers registered here ending an impressive run of nearly 300 minutes since the Hassocks defence was last breached.
What made this result all the more impressive is that it was achieved with eight changes to the starting XI from the last time the Robins took to the pitch when winning 1-0 against Roffey three weeks ago.
That inactivity was down to the petrol crisis cancelling the Robins’ meeting with St Francis Rangers – a 10 minute journey deemed impossible 48 hours before the first team were told they had to travel to Bexhill United – and the withdrawal of Loxwood from the North Division.
And speaking of Loxwood, it was two ex-Magpies who provided the most intrigue in the Hassocks line up. Spencer Slaughter returned to the Beacon last week after leaving his role as manager at Plaistow Road, playing the final 20 minutes of that 1-1 first team draw at the Polegrove on Saturday.
He started against Saltdean in a quest for further match fitness and was joined by his former Loxwood assistant James Westlake, who has also re-joined the Robins.
Alongside Jordan Badger, they offered an experienced spine to the Hassocks line up with over 600 first team appearances between them through the years.
Josh Short made his first appearance for the Under 23s of the season whilst the other changes from the Roffey win saw Jack Baden, Wes Tighe, Jude Wallis and Harvey Parker all start.
Dropping out were Charlie Pugh, Charlie Tuck, Luke Marshall, George Mercer, Louis Thwaites, Connor Bradley, Lewis Beebee and Jay Hudson.
Such inconsistency in selection has proven no barrier to Hassocks so far as their impressive undefeated record showed.
They relied on two of their more experienced individuals to get the job done against the Tigers, Short justifying the decision to play him with a brace and Slaughter notching one to remind everyone of the qualities he can still provide as a player.
It took Short just two minutes to open the scoring but any thoughts that this would be a cakewalk as a result were dispelled as Saltdean proved tough opponents despite sitting a lowly third from bottom in the East Division.
Two goals in the space of five second half minutes eventually won it for Hassocks. Slaughter got his on 68 and Short hit what proved to be the winner on 73. The Tigers scored through an own goal and Sean Roddy.
Hassocks’ reward is a trip to Eastbourne Town in the next round of the competition, who currently occupy fourth spot in the East Division. The date and time of that one is yet to be confirmed.
Hassocks: Harvey Parker, Wes Tighe, Jordan Badger, Jack Baden, Harvey Ransome, James Westlake, Sean McSwiney, Josh Short, Ben Hicks, Spencer Slaughter, Jude Wallis.
Subs: Jay Hudson, Archie Russell, Louis Thwaites (used).
