Rampant Robins make it eight league wins in a row with victory over YM
It is eight Southern Combination League Under 23 North Division wins in a row now for Hassocks with their latest conquest being Horsham YMCA at the Beacon.
The Robins ran out 3-1 winners to extend their lead at the top of the table to 11 points. The increased gap came through second placed Horley Town losing to Broadbridge Heath, who have subsequently taken over as the closest pursuers to the Robins.
Heath have played two games less than Hassocks and the Robins must still go the Countryside Stadium to face the reigning champions. That fixture will take place at some point in April.
Also to come in April is a home meeting with Alfold in fourth but who, like the Bears, have two games in hand. The Robins may have a sizeable lead for now, but there are going to be plenty of twists and turns to come.
Hassocks never used to have a particularly good record against YM so to win this one relatively comfortably was a good result for Neil Parker and his side.
The Robins made two changes from their easy 8-0 win in last week’s Mid Sussex Derby away at St Francis Rangers.
Josh Bradley was available after completing a four game ban and the Robins took the opportunity to get minutes into his legs before the first team’s home clash with Loxwood at the Beacon on Saturday.
Another first team winger also came in with Tom Frankland handed a start after missing several weeks of action.
That duo replaced Will Broomfield and Marshall Smith. The former was unavailable, the latter dropped to the bench.
Smith was joined amongst the substitutes by two members of the Under 18s squad. Sam Dean made his second appearance for the Under 23s whilst there was a debut for Oliver Parker-Williams.
Hassocks were otherwise without any of their Young Robins with the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup semi final against Whitehawk at the weekend taking preference.
It was a player at the other end of the age spectrum who was one of the Robins scorers in what was a fast and frantic 90 minutes of football.
Phil Gault notched his fourth goal in three Under 23s appearances so far this season. Lord Gault was joined on the scoresheet by Sam Geard and substitute George Mercer.
YM’s consolation came via Luke Roberts. The visitors created a number of other chances and on another day, the scoreline could easily have been 5-5.
Victory completed a 48 hour double for Hassocks against YM, following up on Tuesday night’s 4-0 first team win over the same opponents.
Next up for the Under 23s is another home game next Thursday night against bottom of the table Oakwood. Kick off is at 7:45pm.
Hassocks: Fraser Trigwell, Jude Wallis, Jack Smith, Wes Tighe, Tom Frankland, JJ Minty, Sam Rogers, Sam Geard, Ben Hicks, Phil Gault, Josh Bradley.
Subs: George Mercer, Marshall Smith, Sam Dean, Oliver Parker-Williams (used).
