Robins make long trip east for floodlit encounter at Little Common Recreation Ground
If you have always dreamed of spending a Friday night in Little Common, then this is your chance. Hassocks make the long journey east to play under the lights of the Recreation Ground in the only fixture taking place in Sussex that evening.
The Robins will arrive at Green Lane full of confidence. Hassocks are chasing a fourth consecutive Premier Division win, a feat they most recently achieved in the 2018-19 campaign.
Victories away at AFC Uckfield and Alfold followed by the 7-0 August Bank Holiday Monday dismantling of Roffey have created a feel-good factor around the Beacon as the Southern Combination League season ticks into its second month.
Little Common this season
Securing another three points at Little Common will not be easy. Russell Eldridge’s side are coming off the back of achieving the highest finish in their history last season and although they are yet to win in the current Premier Division campaign, they have proven tough to beat.
Broadbridge Heath are the only opponents to have taken three points from Common this season, winning 1-0 on the opening day. Since then, the Green Lane Boys have drawn with Loxwood, AFC Varndeanians and Eastbourne Town.
Common’s sole victory came last weekend when winning 1-0 at Steyning Town in the FA Vase. With the monkey off their back, they will be hoping to build on that success against Hassocks in front of what will no doubt be a healthy crowd at the Recreation Ground.
Little Common v Hassocks head-to-head
The two sides have met on 17 previous occasions. Only four of those so far have come in the Premier Division, the majority of matches taking place in Division One in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In terms of the head-to-head, Hassocks have won five matches and Common six, leaving six draws. There is little to separate the clubs historically, although the Robins are yet to beat Common since the Green Lane Boys were promoted in 2018.
Last time Hassocks played Little Common
Hassocks were the visitors for the first league game played at the Recreation Ground in nearly five years back in January. Common had been forced to move out and groundshare with Eastbourne United in the summer of 2017 for ground grading reasons.
Their committee and supporters subsequently fought a long, hard battle to secure permission and funding to bring Green Lane up to Premier Division standard.
Most people in the sizable Recreation Ground crowd for Hassocks’ visit were understandably hoping that Common would mark the occasion with victory.
The Robins though had other ideas and twice came from behind to draw 2-2. Lewis Hole got both for the hosts with the Hassocks equalisers coming from the evergreen Phil Gault and Josh Short.
Gault was rewarded for his efforts that day by being promoted to the Veterans side, who he went onto help win the Fred Pretty Plate over the following four months.
How to get to Little Common Recreation Ground
Take the A27 to the east of the county, passing Eastbourne and then joining the A259. When approaching Bexhill, you will enter Little Common and arrive at a large roundabout with
the Wheatsheaf pub on your left.
Take the second exit onto Peartree Lane. After passing Ocklynge Close on the left, take the next right onto Green Lane and the Recreation Ground is on your immediate right.
The address is Little Common Recreation Ground, Green Lane, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 4PH.
Admission prices are £6 adults, £3 concessions, Under 16s £1. Please note that the game kicks off at 7:30pm.
