Alfold again prove to be a hurdle Hassocks cannot overcome
Bogey team Alfold continued their hold over Hassocks Under 23s by inflicting a first Southern Combination League North Division defeat of the season on the Robins.
Hassocks arrived at the Elliot Scott Group Stadium having scored seven goals in two games without conceding. That 100 percent record meant Neil Parker’s band of men topped the very early table.
Alfold though seem to have the Robins’ number. The last time the sides met was in the semi finals of the League Cup back in March.
Hassocks had been confirmed as North Division runners up and came into the tie fresh from eliminating champions Broadbridge Heath at the quarter final stage.
It was one of only two defeats the Bears suffered all season; the other being in the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup to Isthmian League side Hastings United. Heath completed their North Division campaign unbeaten.
Hassocks then were favourites to advance to the final against opponents who finished two places and seven points behind them in the table.
The Robins though never showed up. Alfold were the better side and progressed via a 2-1 win in what was at times an ill-tempered clash.
Hassocks’ chance at winning their first piece of silverware at Under 23 level was gone. Fold meanwhile went onto beat Eastbourne Town on penalties in the final.
Fast forward six months and it was the same scoreline, the Robins suffering another 2-1 defeat to a side they just cannot seem to get the better off.
That was despite Alfold finishing the game with 10 men. Johden de Meyer was shown red with home substitutes Leon Fisher and Aryan Sharma joining him in the book.
For the second game running, Parker was able to name a relatively settled side – a rare luxury for a Hassocks Under 23s manager in recent seasons.
There were just three changes from the starting XI who won local bragging rights by beating St Francis Rangers 6-0 a week earlier.
Alfie Loversidge played his first minutes since going off injured in the first team’s 3-0 defeat at Peacehaven & Telscombe on the opening day of the season back on July 30th.
Under 18s wide man Sam Fernley was handed a full debut for the Under 23s after scoring from the bench in the hammering of Rangers.
Danny Reid returned having been unavailable for the Mid Sussex Derby and Under 23s regular Ben Hicks came in for his first start of the campaign. Dropping out were Will Broomfield, Kobe Dersley, George Mercer and Jude Wallis.
Hassocks trailed 1-0 at half time to a strike from De Meyer, making it an interesting evening on a personal level for him. Noel Fisher got Alfold’s second with the Hassocks goal coming from substitute Marshall Smith.
Parker used all five substitutes – including a debut for Sam Arscott – but the Robins could find no way through as Fold saw the game out professionally despite their numerical disadvantage by the end.
Hassocks: Callum Thompson, Sam Fernley, Dan Turner, Arthur Rawlingson, Ben Hicks, Sam Geard, Sam Rogers, Alfie Loversidge, Lewis Fairley, Danny Reid, Sam Smith.
Subs: Marshall Smith, Reece Clarke, Jack Smith, Wes Tighe, Sam Arscott (used).
