Hassocks held by Mavericks but with a popular scorer after long road from injury
For the second successive Sunday, Hassocks Under 18s took on Worthing United. This week though was a different outcome to seven days previously at the Beacon.
On that occasion, the Robins had booked a place in the quarter finals of the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup for only the second time in 21 years by beating United 4-0 at the Beacon.
This time around, it finished 1-1 at the Robert Albion Memorial Ground; a result meaning Hassocks dropped to third place in the Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division.
The Robins have been overtaken in the standings by St Francis Rangers who did not even kick a ball, instead being awarded three points in a walkover against AFC Varndeanians.
After partaking exclusively in cup action since the turn of the year, this was Hassocks’ first league outing since the start of December.
And despite that big win over Worthing United a week earlier, the Robins knew they would be in for a tough morning down on the south coast.
One of the Hassocks’ three league defeats so far was inflicted upon them by United, the Mavericks winning 2-1 at the Beacon back in September.
United had also claimed the impressive scalp of Burgess Hill Town in the previous round of the Dennis Probee to secure their visit to Mid Sussex.
Hassocks were without both their leading scorers for this trip to United. 14 goal Alex Brewer and nine goal Will Varley both missed out.
That meant last season’s top scorer Oliver Parker-Williams came in for only his second start of the campaign after notching from the bench last Sunday.
Parker-Williams replaced Brewer as one of two changes from the 4-0 win. The other saw Max Ward take over from Sam Dean.
It was Hassocks who opened the scoring and there could not have been a more popular player to give the Robins the lead.
Matt Mongardini had missed the first five months of the campaign through long-term injury, only being able to make his Hassocks debut in the League Cup penalty shootout win over Selsey a fortnight ago.
Mongardini was named amongst the substitutes here and it was certainly a memorable moment when he came off the bench to score his first goal for the club.
Unfortunately, United’s Brendan Hanley ensured that it was not enough for Hassocks to come home with all three points as his equaliser meant the spoils were shared.
Next Sunday sees the Robins return to Dennis Probee Cup action in that eagerly awaited last eight tie. East Division side Newhaven are the opponents in an 11am kick off at the Beacon.
Any support you can give the young Robins will be greatly appreciated as they attempt to become only the second Hassocks side in history to make through to the semi finals of the County Cup competition.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Ben Foster, George Gladding, Ed Tobias, Sam Fernley, Oliver Goswamy, Alex Wintle, Toby Munt, Max Ward, Harry Goatcher, Oliver Parker-Williams.
Subs: Matt Mongardini, Ryan Goss (used).
