Weakened Robins well beaten at Roffey to lose touch with leaders
Hassocks Under 23s hopes of keeping pace with long-time Southern Combination League North Division leaders Broadbridge Heath suffered a dent as the Robins were beaten 2-0 away at Roffey.
The result brought to an end the Robins’ two-game mini winning run but did not come as much of a surprise given the injury crisis at the Beacon currently.
Hassocks only named two subs at Bartholomew Way. Lewis Beebee is continuing to find his way back to fitness after a spell on the sidelines and head coach Brad Sweetman was also pressed into action from the bench.
As for the starting XI, that showed three changes from the previous week’s 3-1 League Cup win over Steyning Town, when all three of the Robins goals had been scored via headers.
Harvey Parker returned in goal in place of Ryan West having been rested against the Barrowmen. Under 18s wide man Louis Thwaites was back with the Under 23s following a spell in the first team squad and Sean McSwiney was handed a start.
The two outfield players making way were Marshall Smith who recently made his own senior debut and Beebee who dropped down to the bench as his return is carefully managed, especially in light of the first team being without Joe Bull and Phil Gault currently.
Beebee could well find himself subsequently leading the line on Saturday against Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Hassocks had defeated a strong Roffey side 1-0 at the Beacon earlier in the season, McSwiney netting the only goal of the game.
The Boars team that day contained several of the players who have put the Boars’ first team into title contention in Division One.
This time around, it was a Roffey team with more of an Under 23s feel to it and they ultimately proved too good for a weakened Hassocks.
Josh Maher opened the scoring for the hosts with substitute Solomon Rellen killing things off with a second as the Robins struggled to create too much.
Hassocks will travel to Alfold next Thursday for the first time at Under 23s level, representing their penultimate fixture of 2021.
A week later and Steyning are again the visitors, this time in North Division action for the Robins’ final game of a calendar year which has shown a lot of promise.
Hassocks: Harvey Parker, George Mercer, Jack Baden, Luke Marshall, Charlie Tuck, Jude Wallis, Harvey Ransome, Sean McSwiney, Ben Hicks, Louis Thwaites, Archie Russell.
Subs: Lewis Beebee, Brad Sweetman (used).
