Hassocks face a tough test away at Eastbourne Town
Will it be third time lucky in terms of Hassocks getting their trip down the Sunshine Coast to face Eastbourne Town played?
The fixture was first supposed to be played in November but had to be postponed due to Town’s involvement in the FA Vase.
A December date was set for the rearranged tie, only for the freezing weather to wipe out two weeks worth of Southern Combination League matches.
Town were the last side Hassocks played prior to the snow and ice arriving. A Tuesday night Sussex Senior Cup tie at the Beacon ended 1-0 in the favour of the visitors.
It was a frenetic 90 minutes of football played at a fast pace and with both sides wanting to attack. A similar show at the Saffrons will offer plenty of entertainment.
Eastbourne Town this season
Eastbourne Town bid farewell to one of the longest serving managers in the Premier Division when John Lambert stood down in the summer.
He has been replaced by former Whitehawk boss Jude Macdonald.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.
This time around it has taken until the winter for Town to embark on their normal climb up the standings but it has now started in earnest.
Having been as low as 14th when the Robins were meant to go to the Saffrons in the middle of November, Town are now to sixth with 10 wins, five draws and five defeats to their name.
They have won their past six games against Sussex opposition in a row, last tasting defeat back in mid-October to then-leaders Broadbridge Heath.
Hassocks v Eastbourne Town head-to-head
This is a fixture which Eastbourne Town tend to enjoy. Of the 39 previous matches, Town have won 24 with just nine Hassocks victories and six draws along the way.
Only once in Town’s current spell as a Southern Combination League club beginning in 2014 have the Robins tasted victory.
That came in the 2016-17 campaign. Phil Gault scored twice at the Beacon and former Town goalkeeper James Broadbent saved a penalty to secure a shock win for Mark Dalgleish and Phil Wickwar’s Robins.
To find the last time Hassocks won at the Saffrons, you have to go back even further to 2005-06. Stuart Faith scored the only goal of the game. Hassocks have earned a solitary point in nine subsequent Premier Division visits.
Last time Hassocks played Eastbourne Town
Frankie Chappell headed home with 13 minutes played thanks to some slack Hassocks marking from a corner and that was that as Town won 1-0 at the Beacon last Tuesday.
The Robins hit the woodwork three times whilst visiting goalkeeper Chris Winterton made some seriously impressive interventions.
It was not all one-way traffic though. Town had two good spells of their own in a game which ebbed and flowed, the first coming just after taking the lead and the second including an extraordinary Joe Southam save at full stretch to deny Leon Greig.
How to get to the Saffrons
The normal route to Eastbourne via the A27 and the A2770, following the road towards Eastbourne town centre.
Turn right into The Goffs just before reaching the main station followed by an immediate left into Southfields Road.
That is followed by another right into Dittons Road with the Saffrons on the left at the end of the road.
Admission prices are £7 adults, £4 concessions with free entry for under 16s.
