No World Cup break for the Southern Combination Football League
The Premier League and Championship might be on their winter break for the 2022 World Cup, but it remains full steam ahead in the Southern Combination League over the next month.
Hassocks return from a two week break in action with a home fixture against Lingfield, kicking off at the earlier time of 2pm as the Robins continue to try and keep floodlight use down and energy bills manageable.
This will be the Lingers’ second visit to the Beacon of the season. The previous encounter came in the FA Cup in August and was decided by a Lingfield own goal which ended up going viral after being caught on camera by Your Instant Replay, clocking over half a million views on Twitter.
With the Lingers subsequently involved in some of the most entertaining score lines in the Premier Division so far this season, there is every chance that another memorable afternoon will be in store – and that is without even mentioning that victory could lift Hassocks into fifth in the table.
Lingfield this season
Lingfield are going through something of a transitional season but that has not stopped them carving out a reputation as the Premier Division’s entertainers.
The Lingers have plundered 33 goals so far – two more than Hassocks have managed – which makes them the fourth-highest scorers in the Premier.
At the same time, they have conceded 43 at the other end – the fourth-worst total in the division. Goals are therefore guaranteed whenever Lingfield are involved, although their supporters would probably swap the fun of watching them play for conceding less and more points on the board.
The Lingers currently occupy 15th spot in the table with 17 points to their name from five wins, two draws and 11 defeats.
Hassocks v Lingfield head-to-head
There have been 31 meetings between Hassocks and Lingfield in the past with the Robins leading the head-to-head with 14 wins to the Lingers’ 10, leaving seven draws.
Up until last season when Hassocks took four points from the fixture, it was Lingfield who had been the dominant side over the previous seven years.
The Robins had just one Peter Bentley League Cup win from the 2018-19 season to their name since Lingfield returned to the Premier Division that same campaign.
Hassocks though have now won two on the bounce against the Lingers, that 1-0 FA Cup success having been preceded eight months earlier by an excellent 2-1 victory in the away fixture held at Whyteleafe.
Last time Hassocks played Lingfield
Ah yes, let’s talk about that own goal then. 15 minutes had been played in the extra preliminary round of the world’s greatest cup competition.
Conor Wilford under no pressure hit a 25 yard aerial back pass from out on the right, straight over his goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net. It proved to be the only goal of the game and sent Hassocks through to a preliminary round tie with Uxbridge.
Wilford for his part took it very well. In the buildup to Lingfield’s return to the Beacon, he tweeted: “Oh no not this ****ing ground again.” The exact sort of thing that makes non league football so special.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 2:00pm 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 44 page printed matchday programme will be on sale for £1.
