Veterans the latest Hassocks side to get a big semi after seeing off Sidley
Big semis have been the order of the day for Hassocks this season with the Veterans the latest team to move to within one step of a cup final.
The first team have made it to their first semi final for a decade in the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup, where they will face a daunting task against FA Vase finalists Littlehampton Town.
In the Southern Combination Under 23 League Cup, the Robins went all the way to the final four before elimination against Alfold.
And the Ladies have a semi final in the Sussex County Women’s League Cup to look forward to when hosting Seaford Town at the Beacon in May.
The Veterans joined the party thanks to a 4-1 win over Sidley United in the quarter finals of the Mid Sussex League Fred Pretty Veterans Plate.
Sidley arrived at the Beacon with a strong side full of lots of names recognisable from time spent playing Southern Combination League football for clubs in the far east of the county.
The Robins though proved too good, a blistering start to proceedings and a strong finish under the Beacon lights seeing off opponents who had qualified for the knockout stages of the Plate by finishing fourth in Group B.
Hassocks topped Group A, winning seven matches out of seven and scoring 35 times at an average of more than five-per-game.
With fixtures in veterans football decided on what is basically weekly basis, the Robins do not yet know who they will face in the final four as they look to secure the Fred Pretty trophy for the first time since 2016.
Manager Nick Newman will be hoping he can keep turning out a side as good as the one he named against Sidley for the rest of the competition.
There were four changes from the Robins’ last outing when they won 6-0 at home to Furnace Green Rovers in March.
Newman himself, Joel Harding, Dave Juniper all returned with Anthony Hibbert also tempted out of hibernation as the recent dry spell meant his boots would not get muddy. Missing out were Steve Curtis, Lee Da Lue Browne, Brendan Leahy and Adam Waller.
Hassocks flew out of the traps and were 2-0 ahead in quick time. Perhaps that led to an overconfidence, but they took their foot off the gas a bit and allowed Sidley back into the tie.
Wes Tate has scored plenty of times against the Robins down the years and it was his goal which halved the deficit and led to a spell of domination for the visitors.
Hassocks though reasserted their authority and went onto score two more of their own to confirm their place in a big semi.
On target for the Robins were Juniper, Rob Sayers, Elliott Butler and Paul Armstrong. Butler celebrated his second of the season by going home and running a 10km around Haywards Heath and Cuckfield in a world record time.
Armstrong meanwhile described scoring in the Fred Pretty Veterans Plate as a childhood dream come true, eclipsing his Republic of Ireland Under 21 caps and his two goals from 56 appearances as a professional with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Hassocks: Joel Harding, Paul Armstrong, Nick Newman, Mitch Broadstock, Ant Humphries, Rob Sayers, Jonathan Bundy, Anthony Hibbert, Elliott Butler, Steve Spies, Dave Juniper.
Subs: Phil Gault, Chris Maynard (used).
