Draws for the Sussex Senior Cup and RUR Charity Cup announced
The draws for the two Sussex County FA run competitions have been made, handing Hassocks intriguing fixtures against opponents very familiar and completely new.
In the Sussex Senior Cup, the Robins will welcome Saltdean United to the Beacon in the first round of the competition on a midweek date to be confirmed.
With former Hassocks head coach Brad Sweetman now in charge of the Tigers and a number of players having followed him to Hill Park in the summer, there is sure to be added interest in the tie.
Jack Gardner, Lewis Beebee, Alfie Edmeads, Louis Thwaites, Lucas Tyrrell, Jayden Dunkley and Jacob Campbell are just some of former Robins who could line up for Saltdean when they visit Mid Sussex.
Hassocks and Saltdean have met once before in the Senior Cup, back in the 2001-02 campaign. The Robins won an eight-goal thriller 5-3 at Hill Park, starting a memorable run to the third round of the competition.
Dave John’s side went onto beat Saltdean’s local rivals Peacehaven & Telscombe 1-0 next, earning the plum third round draw of Brighton & Hove Albion Reserves at the Beacon.
A huge crowd attended and they were treated to something of an exhibition from the Albion, who ran out 8-1 winners.
In total, Hassocks have faced Saltdean on 31 occasions in all competitions, winning 12 times. There have been four draws and 15 victories for the Tigers.
The draw for the second round of the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup meanwhile has given the Robins a trip to Southern Combination League Division One side Forest Row.
Hassocks very much enjoyed themselves in the competition last year, advancing all the way to the semi final where treble-winning Littlehampton Town proved to be too good for Sweetman’s side.
The RUR Cup clash will be the first ever meeting between the clubs at senior level, although the old Hassocks IIIs have experience of facing Frow from their days in the Mid Sussex League.
The most recent clash came in the 2010-11 season when Steve Spies’ Robins won 4-1 at the Beacon. Two goals apiece from Stuart Dallaway and Greg Hearn secured victory against a Forest Row side who ended that campaign relegated.
Frow joined the Southern Combination for the start of the 2021-22 season, being bumped up two divisions from the Mid Sussex Premier into Division One.
They finished 11th in their first year but are finding the current campaign a little harder going, sitting 17th with just one league win from nine outings.
Forest Row play their home games at Tinsley Lane, Oakwood – a venue Hassocks have not visited for a competitive game since the 2008-09 campaign and a 1-0 Premier Division defeat to an Oak side relegated shortly after.
The tie will take place on Wednesday 26th October with a 7:45pm kick off.
