Worthing woes for Hassocks falling to heavy defeat on first United visit in six years
One of the most open Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division seasons for some time took another twist as Hassocks suffered their second defeat of the campaign.
In a section where everybody seems capable of beating everybody else rather than there being one or two runaway leaders as is normally the case, the Robins were defeated 2-1 in their first game at youth level against Worthing United since the 2015-16 season.
Hassocks ended that campaign six years ago in seventh spot out of nine teams. They lost 3-2 to the Mavericks at the Beacon in February but won 2-1 at the Robert Albon Memorial Ground in September. That was their second victory of the season having lost their opening three matches.
The Robins should eclipse the lowly finish they achieved last time they were in the same division as United this time around, but who wins the title is less clear.
This result moved the hosts into real contention as the chasing pack closed in on a Hassocks side who have led the way for most of the campaign so far.
Montpelier Villa, Steyning Town and now United are all lurking with games in hand which means too many more defeats and the Robins will not remain top for long.
Hassocks know this and that is perhaps why frustrations boiled over, three yellow cards being an unusually high number for an Under 18s league that is normally played in good spirit.
Entering referee Mark Spence’s book were Jayden Dunkley, Sam Geard and Max Beston whilst there was also a yellow flashed to United’s Samuel Boyd late on.
The tightness of the Central Division is not the only unusual aspect of the campaign so far. Whereas changes every week have been commonplace for Hassocks in recent seasons, they have been remarkably consistent in team selection in 2021-22.
There was only one change from the side who hammered local rivals Burgess Hill Town 4-0 a week previously. Harry Carter returned from absence straight into the starting XI to take the place of Ismaila Housainou Njai.
Both of the United goals came midway through either half and both were from the same player, Nathan Williams scoring in the 20th and 66th minutes to earn the Mavericks their three points.
Geard got the Hassocks goal, continuing his fine form with a sixth of the season to overtake the unavailable Owen Parker-Williams as leading scorer.
The Robins are next in action in a week’s time, hosting Shoreham at the Beacon in another tough game against opponents who are only a couple of wins away from entering the title picture themselves.
Hassocks squeaked past the Musselmen 1-0 thanks to a Geard penalty on the opening day of the campaign
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Dan Llwellyn, Harry Bundy, Jamie Douglass, Max Beston, Dan Lade, Sam Geard, Beau Howard, Hrry Carter, Archie Hill, Archie Russell.
Subs: Jack Thomas, Rob Newman, Alfie Beck (used).
