Robins go looking for a rare result against Broadbridge Heath
After three successive home games, Hassocks are back on the road with the trip to High Wood Hill Sports Ground to face Broadbridge Heath.
This look like a mighty tough game for the Robins for two reasons. The first is because Heath are flying high, sitting sixth in the Premier Division table.
The second is because Hassocks have an appalling recent record against the Bears. The Robins have won just two of their past 12 encounters with Heath and are yet to take so much as a point from High Wood Hill since it replaced the Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre as the Bears’ home in 2019.
Hassocks though will at least head north in good spirits. There was plenty to like about Tuesday night’s showing against Pagham, even if it ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Prior to that, a 2-1 win over Alfold and a 5-0 success over Montpelier Villa had given the Robins their first back-to-back victories of the season. Those sorts of performance levels will be needed again if Hassocks are to return with anything for their efforts.
Broadbridge Heath this season
Having spent most of the 2020-21 campaign around the bottom three prior to curtailment, Heath have turned things around spectacularly in 2021-22 to be on the cusp of the promotion race at the halfway stage in the season.
10 wins, four draws and four defeats from 18 matches leaves them eight points behind Saltdean United in second. The Bears though have a game in hand in what is shaping up to be a fascinating battle for the top spots in the Premier Division.
Heath’s highest ever finish is the sixth place achieved under Steve Painter in the 2018-19 season. There is every chance they will eclipse that come April, which would represent an excellent campaign for the Bears.
Broadbridge Heath v Hassocks head-to-head
Heath are one of the few teams who Hassocks have faced across all three divisions of the Southern Combination League over the past 35 years.
There have been 26 meetings in that time with the Bears leading the head-to-head on 12 wins compared to Hassocks’ nine. Five matches have been drawn.
Heath’s dominance largely comes from their superb recent record in the fixture, already noted earlier in the match preview.
You have to go back to October 2017 to find the last time Hassocks defeated the Bears, a 3-2 success at the Beacon thanks to goals from James Westlake, Bradley Bant and Charlie Pitcher.
The Robins most recent win away against Broadbridge Heath came in March of the 2015-16 campaign. Bant again scored along with Jonno Melia.
Last time Hassocks played Broadbridge Heath
Even by the disappointing standard of results against Heath over the past five or so years, Hassocks’ last clash with the Bears back in August was a bit of a disaster.
The visitors to the Beacon ran out easy 5-1 winners on an evening when the Robins managed the impressive feat of scoring two own goals.
A wicked deflection opened the scoring for the first and a second slice in from a home defender gave Heath their fifth. In between, Matt Penfold, Jamie Taylor and Charlie Parmitter all found time to score.
The Hassocks consolation did at least provide one positive from the evening as Lewis Beebee notched his first senior goal for the club.
How to get to High Wood Hill Sports Ground
Take the A272 to the A24, heading towards Horsham. Leave the A24 at the Broadbridge Heath exit and follow signs for Tesco and Leisure Centre.
Vehicles should park in the free car parks outside the pavilion or outside the Bowls Club. Tesco may charge for vehicles parked for longer than three hours in their car park.
