Hassocks beat champions on a sombre occasion at the Beacon
The football at the Beacon on Thursday night was understandably overshadowed by events going on elsewhere.
Around an hour before kick off between Hassocks Under 23s and Broadbridge Heath, the sad news filtered through that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at Balmoral.
There was a subdued, sombre atmosphere around the ground, not what anyone would have been expecting earlier in the day ahead of a meeting between last season’s Southern Combination League Under 23 North Division champions and the team who finished runners up.
Despite the death of the Queen, the show still went on. Whether this weekend’s first team, ladies, veterans and Under 18s fixtures are played remains to be seen with a decision expected from the FA on Friday.
Hassocks will have been grateful that this one proceeded as they picked up an excellent 2-0 victory against opponents who did not lose a North Division game last season on their way to winning the title by a clear six points.
Those who remain from the Robins’ 2021-22 Under 23s squad remembered only too well how good that Heath side were.
They would also have had confidence that the Robins could take points from the Bears, however. Hassocks eliminated Heath from the quarter finals of the League Cup via a penalty shootout the last time the sides met in March.
There have of course been changes at both clubs since. Most notably, last season’s championship winning captain for Heath, Sam Rogers, is now a Hassocks player having been lured south by new first team head coach James Westlake in the summer.
After suffering their first league defeat of the campaign a week earlier when losing 2-1 at Alfold, Neil Parker made four changes to his side.
Dan Turner was at a wedding with his place taken by Luke Marshall, making his first appearance of the season.
Sam Arscott came in for his first Under 23s start having made his debut as a substitute in that loss at the Elliot Scott Group Stadium.
Marshall Smith was promoted from the bench as a reward for netting the consolation against Fold and Kobe Dersley also returned after missing the trip north.
Dropping out completely along with Turner were Alfie Loversidge and Sam Fernley. Ben Hicks meanwhile had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes.
Hassocks had two in-form forwards to thank for getting their goals, both of which arrived in the first half.
Danny Reid has been a real livewire since signing from Peacehaven & Telscombe, instantly pushing himself into first team contention. His strike here was his second goal in three Under 23 appearances.
Sam Smith moved onto three in three as his return from injury continues to gather pace. The powerful striker is picking a good time to be in such a rich scoring vein, given the first team’s recent struggled in putting away chances.
Almost as pleasing as the forward’s performance was the clean sheet Hassocks kept. Callum Thompson and his defence now have three shutouts from four North Division matches so far.
This was easily their most impressive of the season. Heath plundered 56 goals in 2021-22 at an average of more than three per game on their way to the title, scoring in every single fixture they played.
For the Robins to keep them at bay was no mean feat. They say that it is attacks who win you games and defences who win you titles.
Very early days it might be, but if Hassocks can remain as good defensively over the entire campaign as they have looked in their four outings to date, then this could be a very good season indeed for the Robins.
Away form will be crucial and that is the next test of Hassocks. Parker takes his players on their longest journey of the season next Thursday to inside the M25, visiting Chessington & Hook United at Under 23 level for the first time.
The Robins will fly there in good spirits, hoping for a straightforward evening rather than a roller coaster 90 minutes. And yes, you can expect plenty more puns like that in the next match report.
Hassocks: Callum Thompson, Kobe Dersley, Luke Marshall, Arthur Rawlingson, Sam Arscott, Sam Geard, Sam Rogers, Lewis Fairley, Marshall Smith, Danny Reid, Sam Smith.
Subs: Charlie Broad, Ben Hicks, Jack Smith, George Mercer (used).
