Big games in the RUR Cup and the battle against relegation lie ahead for Robins
A place in the semi finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup is up for grabs as Hassocks kick off the penultimate month of the 2021-22 Southern Combination League season.
The Robins host Seaford Town on Tuesday 1st March standing just two wins away from an appearance at Culver Road in the second-most prestigious knockout competition in the county.
Hassocks have reached the final four of a knockout competition on only four occasions since joining the Southern Combination League 40 years ago.
If Brad Sweetman’s side are to write their own piece of Hassocks history, then they will have to overcome a Badgers side who are in promotion contention in Division One.
Not only is their league position a sign of how good Paul Wise’s side are, but they have also accounted for Premier Division Broadbridge Heath and Isthmian League Lancing in their run to the quarter finals.
Kick off is at 7:45pm in a tie which was meant to have taken place two weeks ago before rain intervened.
Four days later and the Robins face another hastily rearranged fixture as the trip to Horsham YMCA which was lost to Storm Eunice takes place at Gorings Mead on Saturday 5th March.
Hassocks have a terrible record away at YM, winning only twice in the league there since the turn of the century.
One of those victories did at least come on the Robins’ last visit, a Jack Troak penalty and two goals from Charlie Pitcher securing a 3-1 win in October 2020.
A huge game at the Beacon follows that on Saturday 12th March when bottom club East Preston provide the opposition in the final first team home game of March.
The Robins will be looking to avenge one of their most disappointing defeats for many years when an injury-hit squad suffered a 4-1 reversal at the Lashmar in November.
That remains EP’s only Premier Division win of the season so far. Hassocks meanwhile have come on leaps and bounds since then and will hope to prove that in a big six pointer.
Two tough away games end the month against sides currently in the top five. On Saturday 19th March, Hassocks go to Nyetimber Lane to face Pagham followed by a trip to Fort Road and a clash with title chasing Newhaven on Saturday 26th March.
The Under 23s have completed their North Division campaign, finishing as runners up for the first time since 2019.
There is still the small matter of the League Cup, however. They face North Division champions Broadbridge Heath in a mouth watering quarter final at High Wood Hill Sports Ground on Thursday 3rd March, kick off at 7:45pm.
No fixtures currently exist for the Under 18s, who have also finished their league season. The Veterans still have three games to play but these are yet to be scheduled at the time of writing.
The Ladies in contrast have plenty of football to get through. They travel to Worthing Town on Sunday 6th March, Eastbourne Town on Sunday 20th and Seaford Town on Sunday 27th.
They also have a League Cup tie at the Beacon on Sunday 13th, taking on Roffey. Kick off is 2pm and entrance is free.
