Hassocks head to Eastbourne Town for penultimate fixture before Christmas
Last week’s postponement of Hassocks’ trip to AFC Uckfield Town came at a bad time for the Robins, who had begun building some momentum by putting decent results on the board against in-form opponents.
Draws with high flying Broadbridge Heath and free scoring Peacehaven & Telscombe had given cause for optimism. A trip to Eastbourne Town will be another stern test of Hassocks’ recent improvement.
To say that the Robins do not have a great record at the Saffons would be a slight understatement. You have to go back to the 2005-06 season to find Hassocks’ last victory there, a 1-0 win thanks to a Stuart Faith goal.
If the Robins were to pull off a shock on the Sunshine Coast and end that near-16 year wait for a success when visiting the yellow part of Eastbourne, it would also be their first away victory of the season.
Eastbourne Town this season
Eastbourne Town are notorious for starting slowly before hitting form a month or two into the campaign – but having left themselves a little too much to do to get into the title race.
It looks like being a similar story this season. Back in October, they were floating around 10th spot. Some sparkling form in recent weeks however has pushed them towards the top five.
Town are unbeaten in the past 15 matches in all competitions, a sequence containing 10 wins and five draws. Their overall Premier Division record reads 11 victories, six draws and four defeats from 21 games.
Eastbourne Town v Hassocks head-to-head
Eastbourne Town and Hassocks have met on 37 occasion with Town winning over half of them – 22 – to the Robins’ nine with six draws along the way.
In 25 Premier Division meetings, Town again lead the head-to-head. Hassocks have won just once in the past 14 years against them – a shock 2-1 success towards the end of the 2016-17 season.
Phil Gault scored twice at the Beacon that afternoon and James Broadbent produced a magnificent penalty save against his former club.
Last time Hassocks played Eastbourne Town
Town provided the opposition in Hassocks’ first Premier Division home game of the season back in August. Despite their notoriety for starting slowly, it was the visitors who left with a 2-1 win.
Aaron Hopkinson and Leon Greig were on target for Town. Josh Short scored the Hassocks consolation with his first for the club, setting out his stall for what has been a marvellous season so far from the midfielder.
How to get to the Saffrons
Follow the normal route to Eastbourne via the A27 and the A2770, taking the road towards Eastbourne town centre.
Turn right into The Goffs just before reaching the main station followed by an immediate left into Southfields Road. That is followed by another right into Dittons Road with the Saffrons on the left at the end of the road.
The Saffrons is a short walk from Eastbourne Station. Take Grove Road to the left of the library as you exit the station. At Eastbourne Town Hall, take a right onto Meads Road and the Saffrons will appear on your right.
Admission is £7 for adults and £4 for concessions and matchday programmes are on sale for £1.50.
