League leaders provide the opposition in penultimate home league game of the season
It is a big day at the Beacon as Hassocks host their penultimate home Southern Combination Premier Division game of the season with FA Vase finalists Littlehampton Town this visitors.
Not only are the Robins taking on the Wembley bound league leaders, but the afternoon is also raising money for St Peter & St James’ Hospice.
Spencer Slaughter & his fiancée Megan will be running the Brighton Marathon in support of the Hospice on Sunday. They have already smashed through their target of £500 and we will be looking to swell their coffers further.
There will be buckets around the ground for supporters to chuck money into in support of Spencer and Megan. We will also be holding a raffle with money can’t buy prizes.
Unusually for a Hassocks raffle, Dave John will not try and convince you to leave the bottle of wine behind for the next home game should your ticket come out the bowl.
Then there is the football. Hassocks can mathematically guarantee top flight safety whilst Littlehampton need three points to maintain top spot ahead of Saltdean United, who are finishing the campaign strongly.
The Robins will come into the game full of confidence. Brad Sweetman’s side put a serious dent in the title ambitions of Newhaven last time out, holding the Dockers to a 1-1 draw at Fort Road.
That followed a first win away at Pagham for a decade, the securing of an RUR Cup semi final spot when overcoming a tricky quarter final at Saltdean United and a 5-2 victory against East Preston.
If Hassocks were to register a shock success against the Southern Combination League’s best team, then it would be the Robins’ finest result of the season so far.
Littlehampton Town this season
The only way you can not know about the exploits of Littlehampton this season is if you have been living on the moon – and even then, news has probably reached that far.
Last Saturday, the Golds became the first ever Southern Combination League club to reach the final of the FA Vase after beating Loughborough Students 4-0 at the Sportsfield in front of a crowd of over 3,000.
Mitchell Hand & George Gaskin will now lead their side out at Wembley on Sunday 22nd May with the chance to make further history against Newport Pagnell Town.
Littlehampton’s journey to the final has been full of drama. They were actually eliminated in the round of 32 when losing 5-0 away against Athletic Newham.
The hosts though played an ineligible player, Littlehampton were reinstated and they have made the most of the reprieve by winning every subsequent game in the competition.
Whilst Vase fever grips Littlehampton, the Golds are still fighting for silverware in three other competitions. They lead the Premier Division by two points from Saltdean with both sides having four games left to play.
Defeat in midweek for Littlehampton at Eastbourne Town has opened the door slightly for the Tigers, but the title still remains in the Golds’ hands – and who can blame them for being a little hungover at the Saffrons off the back of reaching Wembley?
In the Peter Bentley League Cup, Littlehampton face a final date against Newhaven who sit third in the top flight. That will take place at the Beacon on Monday 2nd May.
A local derby of sorts awaits Town in the quarter finals of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup versus Isthmian League side Chichester City – with the winners facing Hassocks in the semi final of that competition, again at the Beacon.
This may therefore not be the last time the Robins face Littlehampton this season, should they manage to overcome Chi on Tuesday night.
Hassocks v Littlehampton Town head-to-head
There have been 34 meetings between Hassocks and Littlehampton in the past and it is the Golds who dominate the head-to-head with 18 wins to Hassocks’ 13.
Littlehampton have racked up their fair share of goals in the fixture, scoring 63 – a figure hugely helped by the 17 they notched in four matches across their 2014-15 Southern Combination title winning season and the following campaign.
Last time we met
The Robins went to the Flora Sportsfield in September at a time when they were really struggling. In 90 minutes against a free scoring Golds side, Hassocks ended up giving one of their better showings of the first three months of the campaign.
All looked to be going to script when Littlehampton surged 2-0 ahead in the opening 13 minutes through player-manager Gaskin and Dave Herbert.
Hassocks though came flying out of the traps in the second half to surprise everyone in attendance. Goals from Jack Gardner and Jordan Badger pulled the Robins level by the hour mark, before Littlehampton’s quality told as they ran out 4-2 winners.
Premier Division top scorer Joe Benn made it 3-2 with the Golds’ other player-manager Hand completing the scoring in the final minute.
Admission prices and matchday information
Admission prices are £6 adults, £3 concessions with under 16s going free. Dogs are welcome and a 44 page matchday programme is available for £1.
The Clubhouse will be open for supporters with the Robins Bar selling a wide range of beers from local breweries and beyond and the T Bar catering for hot food and drink. Contactless payments are available on the gate and in the Clubhouse.
Although Covid-19 restrictions have now been lifted in England, track and trace barcodes are still available for those who wish to use them.
Masks are not mandatory inside but please wear one if you prefer. All two metre signage remains as a guide for those who wish to continue practicing social distancing. Hand sanitiser will also be provided around the ground.
