Robins look to continue their hot October form against high-flying United
It has been quite a while since the Beacon hosted a top six Southern Combination League Premier Division clash. That is what Hassocks fans can look forward to however with the visit of high-flying Eastbourne United.
The Robins have navigated October unbeaten so far, climbing to the dizzy heights of sixth in the Premier Division. Last Saturday’s 3-2 win at Crowborough Athletic was arguably their most impressive result of the campaign, inflicting just a third defeat of the season on the Crows.
United will offer another stern test. They have been in the top five for pretty much the entire season and have tended to enjoy recent meetings with Hassocks, winning the past five matches between the clubs.
The Robins turning that form around by taking three points would be some statement, potentially lifting them as high as fourth depending on other results. A big afternoon at the Beacon awaits.
Eastbourne United this season
You can trace United’s current position of fifth in the table back to last September and the moment they appointed former AFC Uckfield Town manager Anthony Storey as boss.
United had won just two of their opening 11 games in the 2021-22 campaign. Storey lost his first match in charge to Newhaven but the next three games yielded three wins and 15 goals scored against Lingfield, Loxwood and Horsham YMCA.
That was the start of an impressive rise from the edge of the relegation zone to a fifth place finish, United’s highest since winning the Southern Combination League title in 2009.
United have taken that form into the new campaign. They were the early leaders at one point and currently sit four points behind Broadbridge Heath.
In a season with no obvious favourite as of yet to win the championship, United’s consistency over the past 14 months must surely make them contenders.
Hassocks v Eastbourne United head-to-head
The Robins dominate the head-to-head with 18 wins to United’s 14 and 12 draws from 44 meetings. That record is helped hugely by the fact that Hassocks used to love visiting the Oval for reasons that nobody could ever really understand.
There were six Robins win in a row down on the Sunshine Coast between 2010 and 2019, despite Hassocks only finishing above United twice in the table during that period.
That run though has been dampened somewhat by defeats on Hassocks’ last three trips to the Oval, feeding into that earlier mentioned sequence of five successive wins for United in the fixture.
Last time Hassocks played Eastbourne United
A January trip to the Oval resulted in 90 minutes of turgid football lacking in any real quality. One of the only moments worth writing about provided the game’s single goal, scored by United captain Charlie Ball.
Conjuring something out of nothing, Ball hit an unstoppable effort from 25 yards which Alex Harris could only watch rocket into the top corner.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3:00pm and admission is £7 adults, £3 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink and the Robins Bar has a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries, along with other alcohol.
Dogs are welcome and a printed matchday programme will be on sale for £1.
