Robins head south to face second place Newhaven
Hassocks face a stern test as they aim to complete an unbeaten October with their final fixture of the month coming away at Newhaven.
The Dockers sit second in the Southern Combination League Premier Division, one point behind leaders Broadbridge Heath. Having been in the promotion picture for many years now, might this finally be the campaign where Newhaven make it to the Isthmian League?
Doing so would mean that progress on-the-pitch keeps up with what has happened behind the scenes at the Trafalgar Ground over the summer.
A new artificial pitch has been installed, allowing Newhaven to make money all-year round from their facilities. As the likes of Lancing and Steyning Town can attest to, that can make a big difference at step five of the non-league pyramid.
The Dockers have tasted just one Premier Division defeat at home since the 3G surface went in. Combine their formidable home form with the Robins’ poor record down at Fort Road and you could argue that if Hassocks were to return to Mid Sussex with something to show for their efforts, then it would be their most impressive result of October.
Newhaven this season
Newhaven made it to within one game of promotion to the Isthmian League in 2021-22, losing the promotion/relegation playoff to Lancing in May.
Their aim this season has to be winning the championship and the automatic promotion which comes with it. The Dockers made a bit of a slow start but recovered well to hit top spot earlier in the month.
Broadbridge Heath have since leapfrogged Newhaven in what is so far shaping up to be one of the most open title races for years.
What stands the Dockers in good stead is the insane amount of firepower they have. Alfie Rogers and Lucas Franzen-Jones are into double figures already with Lee Robinson – a regular at the top of the Southern Combination League scoring charts for the best part of a decade now – not far behind.
Newhaven’s 42 goals are the most of any side in the Premier Division. With Hassocks the third-highest scorers, there should be plenty of entertainment on offer at the Trafalgar Ground.
Newhaven v Hassocks head-to-head
It feels like Hassocks have been playing Newhaven forever, but the reality is that there have been JUST 18 meetings between the clubs.
The fixture only become a regular staple when the Dockers won promotion to the Premier Division in 2013 and since then, it has not brought much joy for the Robins.
Hassocks have won just four times compared to Newhaven’s 11 with three draws. The Robins are at least unbeaten in their last two visits to the Trafalgar Ground, winning 1-0 in February 2019 followed by a 1-1 draw last season.
The flipside of that however is that Hassocks had only ever taken one point from Newhaven away before those two impressive results.
Last time Hassocks played Newwhaven
That aforementioned draw at the end of March all-but ended the Dockers’ hopes of staying in touch with Littlehampton and Saltdean United in the title race.
Both goals came within the space of two minutes near the end of the first half via a couple of ridiculous referring decisions.
Newhaven took the lead when a superb Lee Robinson dive earned a free kick, delivered into the area where Franzen-Jones bundled home following a bit of a scramble.
An even worse piece of acting from Jack Baden redressed the balance, earning Hassocks a penalty which Jack Troak stuck away for the equaliser.
How to get to the Trafalgar Ground
Take the A259 coast road into Newhaven, where you will join a one way system on Lewes Road. Follow it all the way around until you have nearly done a complete loop before taking a left onto South Road.
This in turn becomes Fort Road with the ground and its imposing brick main stand on your right opposite the Marina.
