RUR Cup progress and a first win on the road meant 2022 got off to a flyer
If Hassocks made a New Year’s resolution to win a first away game of the 2021-22 season, then they did not take very long to fulfil it.
Three days into January and the Robins made an unexpected visit to Church Road, Whyteleafe after Lingfield made a late decision to move the game onto a 3G pitch with their Godstone Road home waterlogged.
Hassocks certainly appreciated the change, making light work of a long journey to inside the M25 by securing three points on the road through a 2-1 success.
The confidence the Robins had taken from holding Southern Combination League leaders Saltdean United to a 1-1 draw in their previous outing was there for all to see as Hassocks played with a high tempo and a determination to take the game to their hosts.
This approach bore fruit when Josh Short gave the Robins the lead with only nine minutes played. James Westlake and Lewis Westlake harried in midfield to win possession, followed by James slipping in Short who beat Lingers goalkeeper Johnny Thurbin with a clinical inside boot finish.
Westlake again released Short in the build up to Hassocks’ second on the half hour mark. This time, Short delivered a low pass into the box which Alfie Loversidge looked set to convert until he was scythed down.
A penalty was the only outcome and Jack Troak duly converted for his first goal in over a year following a difficult time with injuries. Troak celebrated with even more enthusiasm than normal, much to the delight of the travelling Hassocks support.
Lingfield scored their consolation from a penalty of their own. Aaron Jenkins was clattered by Bradley Tighe before dusting himself down to beat Harvey Parker from 12 yards.
Haydn Dickinson missed two gilt-edged opportunities in the space of 120 seconds for Lingfield to find an equaliser. That would have been harsh on Hassocks though, who made the trip back to Sussex with a deserved first win on the road for 14 months in the bag.
Eight days later and the Robins made further progress in the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup with a 2-1 third round win in extra time over Crawley Down Gatwick.
The scores were locked at 0-0 at the end of the regulation 90. It was during the additional 30 minutes at a misty Beacon that things really sparked into life as Hassocks booked a quarter final meeting with Seaford Town.
Troak scored both the Robins goals. The first came six minutes into extra time from the penalty spot after Lewis Westlake was wiped out in the box.
Down responded immediately, former Hassocks midfielder Harvey Enticknap heading down for fellow substitute Ben Chowney to bundle home an equaliser.
Alex Harris had to make a superb save from Nick Sullivan’s bending shot before Troak won it with his second when a shoot out was just five minutes away.
James Westlake turned over possession in midfield to release Captain Jack. Troak made no mistake, beating Alex Bellingham with a hard strike drilled low into the bottom corner.
Hassocks were part of an historic occasion four days later when they became the first opponents to visit Little Common Recreation Ground in a league game since April 2017.
The Robins were not the most obliging of guests for Common’s homecoming following nearly five years of ground sharing with Eastbourne United.
Hassocks twice came from behind to draw 2-2 and earn a valuable point in front of a large crowd intrigued by the improvements made to the Rec — including two new stands – to bring it up to Premier Division standards following a long and hard battle by the Green Lane Boys’ committee.
Common unsurprisingly came flying out the blocks to take the lead with 13 minutes played. Sam Ellis swung over a corner and poor Hassocks marking allowed Lewis Hole to head home.
The evergreen Phil Gault rolled back the years with an equaliser on 26 minutes, turning on a sixpence to hit an effort from the edge of the area which left home goalkeeper Sam Cruttwell with no chance.
Hole restored Commons’ lead early in the second half when side footing home a square pass from Freddy Warren. Nobody could have blamed Hassocks for tailing off given the gruelling 120 minutes they had gone through in midweek against Down.
And yet remarkably, they found a second equaliser 13 minutes from time. Short picked up possession in midfield and with the Common defence dropping off, he accepted the invitation to drive forward and unleash a low strike from 25 yards which found the bottom corner.
A week later and it was another trip to the east of the county, this time to face Eastbourne United. One of the only moments of quality in 90 turgid minutes decided the tie in favour of the hosts when United captain Charlie Ball scored with a first half effort from 25 yards which arrowed straight into the top corner.
Hassocks followed up their 1-0 defeat at the Oval by losing 4-1 at home to Bexhill United, although the final score did not tell the full story.
The game could have gone either way when the hour mark was reached with the sides level at 1-1. Jack Shonk had put the Pirates ahead on 12 minutes with an exquisite shot bent around the outstretched hand of Harris.
Hassocks caught Bexhill cold at the start of the second half to equalise within 60 seconds of the restart. Troak had been withdrawn at the break after taking a knock with his replacement Charlie Broad making an instant impact, holding the ball up well before laying off to James Westlake.
Westlake swept a pass out to the left flank where Short ghosted in unnoticed by the Pirates defence to curl an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner.
The outstanding Turner being carried off proved to be the turning point. Within 12 minutes of Hassocks’ star centre back departing, Bexhill had scored three times to wrap up three points in their ultimately successful quest for their highest ever Southern Combination League finish.
Shonk completed his hat-trick with two identical goals, racing clear to latch onto through balls from Joe Summerbell. Max Walsh added the fourth with a fine finish despatched after the Robins failed to deal convincingly with a ball into the box.
January saw the Under 23s complete their North Division fixtures, owing to an unusually dry winter. They kicked off the month with a top-of-the-table clash against unbeaten North Division leaders Broadbridge Heath.
The Bears had several games in hand on Hassocks, making them the overwhelming favourites to lift the title. If the Robins were to have a chance, they had to win when the sides met at the Beacon – or avoid defeat at the very least.
Heath appeared to be heading for three points when Craig Goodsir and Zack Lamont had them 2-0 ahead going into half time. Lewis Beebee though had other ideas.
The teenager was introduced from the bench, scoring two goals in the space of seven minutes to ensure that the spoils were shared.
With Heath not playing the following week, Hassocks knew that a victory over Horsham YMCA in their penultimate league fixture at the Beacon would take them into first place.
Broad marked his first start in Hassocks colours following his arrival from Loxwood with two of the goals in a 3-2 victory over YM. Arthur Rawlingson claimed the other from the penalty spot with Stan Berry bagging a brace for the visitors.
The Robins ended their campaign with a disappointing Mid Sussex Derby defeat at the hands of St Francis Rangers. Will Gilbert gave Rangers a first half lead, Luke Marshall equalised before Hugo Rawlingson struck what proved to be the winner on the hour mark.
Broadbridge Heath finished the season as champions, winning 11 and drawing five matches to complete an invincibles campaign. An excellent season for Hassocks nonetheless saw the Robins finish runners up, some six points behind the Bears.
The Under 23s did at least retain interest in the League Cup, giving them further football to play in February and March – unlike the Under 18s, whose season was done and dusted by January 30th.
Five different scorers were on target in their opening game of January and yet it still resulted in defeat as Worthing United edged an 11-goal thriller 6-5 at the Beacon.
Sam Geard, Beau Howard, Oliver Parker-Williams, Muhammad Wilson and substitute Alfie Beck found the net for the Robins. United won it via braces from George Hemming and Nathan Williams, an own goal and one from Matthew Holden.
The Young Robins were then eliminated from the League Cup on penalties away at Rustington, missing all three of their spot kicks after the 90 minutes had ended level at 0-0.
Steyning Town provided the opposition in the final Central Division match of the campaign, leaving the Beacon with a 4-1 success. Howard got the Hassocks goal with Toby Reeder, Destiny Ojo, Bryan Tshigoma and an own goal on target for the Barrowmen.
Rare back-to-back Sunday matches were played by the Veterans, resulting in two handsome victories. The prolific Joel Harding added another goal to his growing collection in a 9-2 win over East Court.
Steve Spies, Paul Armstrong and Anthony Hibbert all got braces with Dave Juniper and Jonathan Bundy completing the rout.
One week later and the Robins saw off Brockham 4-1 at the Beacon. Spies smashed in another brace along with goals from Gault and Rob Sayers.
The Ladies would enjoy a much improved second half of the campaign although they first suffered defeat in their only January fixture, losing 4-2 at Saltdean United. Jess Craig and Jemma Kendall got the consolations.
