Hassocks return to Southern Combination action after a 15 day break
A mix of cup competitions and the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II means that Hassocks have not played a Southern Combination League Premier Division match for 15 days.
Action resumes when the Robins take flight to Crawley Down Gatwick. It is the start of a tough run of three fixtures against the Anvils, current leaders Horsham YMCA and current second placed side Broadbridge Heath.
With a potential banana skin of an FA Vase tie away at Division One side Chessington & Hook United crammed into the middle, it could be a roller coaster next fortnight.
Crawley Down Gatwick this season
It was a busy summer at the Haven with Down losing a number of key players who had helped them to an 11th place finish in 2021-22.
Hassocks know all about that – new head coach James Westlake was able to persuade Phil Johnson, Harvey Blake and Will Broomfield to return to the Beacon from the Anvils.
Another ex-Robin in Charlie Pitcher moved to Burgess Hill Town. Losing Johnson and Pitcher deprived Down of two forwards who had plundered over 50 goals between them in 2021-22.
So much upheaval has understandably led to a mixed start to the current campaign. Down have won two and lost three of their five Premier Division matches so far.
They have impressive victories against Newhaven and Crowborough Athletic to their name, serving as a reminder of the quality that remains at the Haven despite all those departures.
Hassocks will be acutely aware of that quality, as it is not just Johnson, Blake and Broomfield playing against their former club.
Down have a strong ex-Robins contingent amongst their current squad. Harvey Enticknap has three goals from midfield this season.
Jake Chadwick joined the Anvils from Billingshurst in the summer, Louis Pittock made the move from Shoreham and Dave Carruthers made his Down debut on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Crawley Down Gatwick v Hassocks head-to-head
Hassocks v Crawley Down has a well earned reputation as one of the most entertaining fixtures on the Southern Combination League circuit.
87 goals have been plundered in 25 previous meetings in senior football, including 34 in the past nine meetings. Amongst the more ridiculous scores of the past seven years are 5-3 and 6-4 wins for Hassocks.
The head-to-head reads 12 victories for the Robins, eight for Down with five draws. Four of those meetings took place in the space of six months last season.
Hassocks won in the Premier Division and Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup. Down were victorious in the Sussex Senior Cup and the spoils were shared in the other league meeting.
Last time Hassocks played Crawley Down Gatwick
Down visited the Beacon on a hot and sunny Easter Monday for that second Premier Division clash of the campaign.
It was the penultimate game of the league season and neither side had much to play for with Hassocks guaranteed Premier Division survival and the Anvils safely ensconced into upper mid table
A full time score of 0-0 was not really in keeping with what normally happens in the fixture, although it was one of the more entertaining goalless stalemates you are likely to see.
How to get to the Haven
Head through Haywards Heath to Ardingly and onto Turners Hill on the B2028. After Turners Hill, you will enter Crawley Down and come to a fork in the road.
Take a right onto Vicarage Road, following this through the village as it joins Hophurst Lane until the Haven appears on your left.
