A century of appearances for the Robins for Westlake Junior
Lewis Westlake became the latest player to join the Hassocks 100 Club after completing a century of appearances in the Easter Monday 0-0 draw with Crawley Down Gatwick.
The midfielder has reached the landmark across three separate spells with the Robins spread over a little under six years.
Westlake first joined the Robins in the summer of 2016 from Lancing. Over the next two seasons, he made 62 appearances to establish himself as a regular in the midfield engine room. Westlake scored four times in that period.
He returned to Lancing for the start of the 2018-19 season before moving onto Loxwood whom he played 22 times for.
Hassocks became his third club of the campaign, Mark Dalgleish bringing Westlake back to the Beacon in February 2019.
Westlake made a further 15 appearances for the Robins over the next year before the Spring 2020 lockdown brought a premature end to the 2019-20 season.
For 2020-21, it was back to Loxwood where Westlake’s ex-Hassocks teammate Spencer Slaughter was now manager.
Slaughter soon named Westlake as captain of his Magpies side. Westlake subsequently skippered Loxwood to the final of the Southern Combination League Supplementary Shield, where they lost to Isthmian League-bound Lancing.
When Slaughter left Plaistow Road, Westlake was one of a number of players who headed for pastures new. His destination was Steyning Town, but he made only two starts and one substitute appearance before Hassocks lured him back to the Beacon for a third time in October.
The Robins were enjoying a torrid season at the point Westlake returned, having won just two league matches and been eliminated from the Peter Bentley League Cup and Sussex Senior Cup as well as the FA Vase and FA Cup.
Relegation looked a distinct possibility. It is no coincidence that the signing of Westlake coincided with the upturn in form that has seen the Robins end the season nine points clear of the bottom two and having reached the semi final of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup.
Westlake’s first five games back in a Hassocks shirt saw him net four times – as many as he had in his 77 appearances from his first two spells.
In total, Westlake has contributed six goals this season. That makes it his most prolific campaign as a Hassocks player.
Most of them have been spectacular strikes too. There was an effort from 36 yards against Montpelier Villa in November and a delicate chip at home to Alfold four days later.
Westlake’s expertise from set pieces has also proven hugely beneficial. He has scored from direct free kicks against East Preston and Alfold and provided his fair share of assists from dead ball scenarios.
Congratulations to Lewis on reaching the milestone, and here is to the next 100.
