Hassocks beat the Boars to move four points clear at the top of the table
Hassocks Under 23s opened up a four point gap at the top of the Southern Combination League North Division thanks to an excellent 4-1 victory at home to Roffey.
The Boars arrived at the Beacon on the periphery of the title race, sitting fourth in the table some eight points behind Hassocks but with a game in hand.
With Alfold in League Cup action against Arundel, the Robins knew that a win over the Boars would put a bit of breathing space between themselves and the team who begun the evening in second place.
Hassocks were not the only side to take advantage of Alfold’s inactivity in the North Division; a 4-0 win for Horley Town over bottom club Oakwood moved the Clarets above Fold to take over as the Robins’ nearest pursuers.
Neil Parker and his players knew they would be in for a tough evening based on what happened when they met Roffey on the opening day of the campaign. A single Danny Reid goal decided that clash 1-0 in favour of Hassocks at Bartholomew Way.
After three months of pretty much interrupted fixtures through August, September and October, the Robins had an 11 week break thanks to freezing temperatures and wet weather until returning to action last week with a 2-0 win at home to Chessington & Hook United.
Hassocks were understandably rusty in that game. They looked much better against Roffey having shaken some of the cobwebs, delivering with an improved performance alongside one of the most impressive results of their season so far.
The Robins made two changes from their victory over Chessington. Club captain Lewis Westlake returned for his first competitive football since a September injury in the first team’s 4-2 win at Horsham YMCA.
He took over in midfield from fellow long-term injury absentee Alfie Loversidge, who is being eased back in slowly having been on the shelf for even longer than Westlake.
Loversidge was given minutes from the bench here with Hassocks careful not to overwork him following six months out with a problem incurred away at Peacehaven & Telscombe in July. The other change saw Phil Gault replaced by Sam Smith, who joined Charlie Broad in attack.
Broad was on target with his fourth of the season alongside Wes Tighe opening his account for the campaign. The other two Hassocks goals came from the bench as Marshall Smith and Jude Wallis rounded off a comfortable victory for the Robins.
Hassocks were able to give Callum Thompson a run out from the bench for his first minutes since suffering a nasty shoulder dislocation and fracture in the final three minutes of the Under 23s 6-2 win at Horsham YMCA in early October.
The Robins will be hoping to see more of their talented goalkeeper before he moves to Point University in the United States on a football scholarship.
Cameron Cooke scored the consolation goal for Roffey, whose disappointing evening was rounded off with a late red card for substitute Will Hoskins.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Wes Tighe, Will Broomfield, Jack Baden, Jack Smith, Lewis Westlake, Sam Rogers, Sam Geard, Ben Hicks, Sam Smith, Charlie Broad.
Subs: Alfie Loversidge, Marshall Smith, Jude Wallis, Callum Thompson (used).
