It is match number three between Robins and Anvils this season
Hassocks start a run of three consecutive away games by making one of their shortest trips of the season to Crawley Down Gatwick for a Tuesday night fixture under the floodlights at the Haven.
The Robins and the Anvils are familiar foes. This will be the third time they have faced each other already this season – with another fixture still to come at the Beacon on Easter Monday.
Currently, the score stands at one win apiece. Down eliminated Hassocks from the Sussex Senior Cup back in October. The Robins took their revenge three weeks ago, winning 2-1 in a Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup third round clash which required extra time.
Matches between Hassocks and Crawley Down always tend to be entertaining. There is added intrigue this season with five former Robins in the squad at the Haven – Harvey Blake, Phil Johnson, Charlie Pitcher, Will Broomfield and Harvey Enticknap.
Johnson and Pitcher guarantee goals as Hassocks fans are well aware. A flight to Crawley Down Gatwick will therefore provide another stern examination of the improvements the Robins have been making over recent months.
Crawley Down Gatwick this season
It has been a bit of a strange campaign for Crawley Down. They amassed some serious firepower in the summer, signing Pitcher from the Beacon to join Johnson and Oli Leslie, another regular scorer on the Southern Combination League circuit for a number of years.
Some were touting Down as dark horses for the title as a result of the goals they had in them, and they have shown what they can do on their day with an impressive run to the third round of the FA Vase.
The best way to describe their league form however is inconsistent. 12 wins, three draws and nine defeats leaves them in ninth spot in the table, 14 points off the top five but with up to four games in hand on some of their rivals.
Crawley Down Gatwick v Hassocks head-to-head
The overall head-to-head reads 11 victories for the Robins, eight for Down with four draws – but that only tells half the story.
Goals tend to be guaranteed whenever Crawley Down and Hassocks meet, earning it that aforementioned reputation for entertainment.
83 have been plundered in 22 previous meetings in senior football since the first clash saw Hassocks run out 4-0 winners in the 2005-06 campaign.
The fixture averages four goals per game, including 30 in the past seven meetings. Amongst the more ridiculous score lines of the past six years are 5-3 and 6-4 wins for Hassocks.
Last time Crawley Down Gatwick played Hassocks
Game two of four between the clubs this season came at the Beacon in mid-January. Nothing could separate the side over 90 RUR Cup minutes, the match finishing 0-0 after regulation time.
In keeping with the traditions of Hassocks v Crawley Down, it was a highly enjoyable 0-0 too. Nobody therefore minded an additional 30 minutes, in which the Robins eventually ran out 2-1 winners.
Captain Jack Troak scored twice either side of a Ben Chowney equaliser for Down. Hassocks’ reward for an enthralling victory is a date with Seaford Town in the quarter finals at the Beacon on Tuesday 15th February.
How to get to the Haven
Crawley Down is a short hop to the north east of Hassocks. Head through Haywards Heath to Ardingly and onto Turners Hill on the B2028.
After Turners Hill, you will enter Crawley Down and come to a fork in the road where you need to take a right onto Vicarage Road, following this through the village until the Haven appears on your right.
Admission is £6 adults and free for under 16s. The tea bar will be open for hot and cold drinks and confectionary but there will be no hot food available for supporters.
