Hassocks round off their pre-season fixtures against Division One Oaks
Hassocks play their final pre-season friendly fixture ahead of the start of the 2022-23 Southern Combination Premier campaign when Division One Oakwood visit the Beacon on Tuesday night.
The Oaks currently reside in Division One, where they finished 15th last season. They won six, drew nine and lost 19 of their 34 league fixtures in their 12th successive campaign in the second tier of the Southern Combination League.
Hassocks last faced Oakwood in a competitive fixture in the 2008-09 season. The Oaks were a Premier Division club back then and needed to beat Hassocks to give themselves any hope of surviving relegation ahead of the final three weeks of the campaign.
Chris Williams scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for the hosts at Tinsley Lane. Despite their win over Dave John’s Robins, Oakwood were unable to haul themselves to safety and went down alongside Worthing United.
The previous meeting that season took place when Hassocks were also involved in the battle to avoid the drop. Goals from Sol Bowra, Adam Williams and Anthony Hibbert secured a big three points for the Robins via a 1-0 victory.
There have been several friendly meetings over the intervening years. Unfortunately, last year’s clash at the Beacon was postponed due problems with the new drainage system which required remedial work.
That famously led to Hassocks setting what must be some sort of English football record by having a competitive game postponed in July for a waterlogged pitch.
Victory for Hassocks would see them end their friendly fixtures with three wins and three defeats from six matches.
Isthmian League South East opponents Burgess Hill Town and Whitehawk have proven too good for the Robins. Hassocks have however beaten two of the three Division One opponents they have faced, seeing off both Arundel and Shoreham 4-2.
Their other meeting with a club from Division One resulted in a 1-0 home defeat to Epsom & Ewell. Based on what was seen at the Beacon that afternoon, the Salts will be one of the favourites to win that division this season.
Kick off against Oakwood is at 7:45pm. Admission is by pay what you can afford donation. The Robins Bar will be serving craft beer and other alcohol and the T Bar will have hot food and drinks available.
Dogs are welcome and we are also hoping to show England’s Euro 2022 semi final against Sweden on the televisions in the clubhouse.
