Hassocks hoping to make the third round of the competition for the first time since 2016
You have to go back to the 2016-17 season to find the last time Hassocks progressed to the third round of the Sussex Senior Cup.
They face a tough test in reaching that stage for the first time in seven seasons having been drawn against Eastbourne Town, opponents who the Robins have a poor record against historically.
Hassocks have beaten Town just once in the past 15 years, a shock 2-1 victory at the Beacon in that same 2016-17 campaign in which they last went beyond the second round of the Senior Cup.
Phil Gault scored twice and former Town goalkeeper James Broadbent saved a penalty against his old club on a memorable afternoon in Mid Sussex.
History might be up against the Robins but under James Westlake, Hassocks have made a pleasing habit this season of rewriting the record books.
A rare place in the Senior Cup last 16 secured by an ever rarer win against Eastbourne Town would arguably be the Robins’ most impressive feat yet.
Eastbourne Town this season
Eastbourne Town bid farewell to one of the longest serving managers in the Southern Combination League Premier Division when John Lambert stood down in the summer, being replaced by former Whitehawk boss Jude Macdonald.
Under Lambert, Town had always been notoriously slow starters to the season before finding rhythm from autumn onwards and making a late charge into the title picture.
That has not happened so far, although it will hardly come as a surprise following such a summer of change at the Saffrons.
Town sit 14th in the Premier Division standings with five wins, four draws and five defeats to their name, leaving them seven points and eight places worse off than Hassocks.
Ominously for the Robins chances of progressing is the fact that Town’s best results have come in cup competitions.
They reached the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, have eliminated one of the title favourites Newhaven from the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup and progressed to the third round of the FA Vase at the weekend with a hugely impressive win at Bexhill United.
Hassocks v Eastbourne Town head-to-head
As already mentioned, this is a fixture which Eastbourne Town tend to enjoy. Of the 38 previous matches, Town have won 23 with just nine Hassocks wins and six draws along the way.
Four of those games have come in cup competitions. The Robins have a win and a draw in the Peter Bentley League Cup from the 2005-06 season when a 1-1 draw at the Beacon necessitated a replay at the Saffrons.
Two goals from Pat Harding and one from Matt Robbins sent Hassocks into the quarter finals, where they suffered elimination at the hands of Shoreham.
Town meanwhile won the only FA Vase clash between the clubs in the 2006-07 season, as well as hammering Hassocks 5-1 in the 2014-15 RUR Cup.
Remarkably, this will be the first time Hassocks and Town have faced each other in the Senior Cup in the 40 years the Robins have been partaking in the competition.
Eastbourne Town have quite the pedigree, having lifted the famous trophy on no less than 12 previous occasions.
Last time Hassocks played Eastbourne Town
You have to go back to 2006 to find the last time Hassocks won at the Saffrons and there seemed little prospect of that duck being broken that duck on the Robins most recent visit last December.
The 5-2 scoreline was however a little harsh. It was 2-1 going into half time, a Lewis Westlake free kick cutting the deficit after Kevin Farragher and Arron Hopkinson had the hosts 2-0 ahead after 21 minutes.
Hassocks lost concentration in an eight minute spell just past the hour mark, allowing Town to score three more times through Kian Moynes, Louis Veneti and Hopkinson again.
That put the game beyond the visitors, although Sam Smith did manage to add a second consolation on his Hassocks debut against the club where he started his career.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 7:45pm 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.
