Hassocks host title chasing Crawley Down Gatwick in penultimate home game
A hectic Easter weekend kicks off for Hassocks with the penultimate home game of the season against title chasing Crawley Down Gatwick.
The Anvils have enjoyed a magnificent season to date, playing their part in a three-way battle for the championship along with Broadbridge Heath and Newhaven which could yet go down to the wire.
Hassocks took a point off the Dockers a fortnight ago and will be hoping to have further impact on where the title ends up when facing the Anvils.
Crawley Down Gatwick this season
After a busy summer at the Haven, not many people would have predicted at the beginning of the campaign that Down would spend practically the whole season in title contention.
And yet that has very much been the case. They led the league through pretty much the whole of autumn and most of winter before being overtaken by Broadbridge Heath and Newhaven.
Not that they are out of the race; the Anvils are three points off second and seven from the top with a game in hand.
Expect there to be plenty more twists and turns yet in the battle to be crowned Southern Combination League champions.
Hassocks v Crawley Down Gatwick head-to-head
Hassocks v Crawley Down has a well earned reputation as one of the most entertaining fixtures on the Southern Combination League circuit.
88 goals have been plundered in 26 previous meetings in senior football, including 35 in the past 10 meetings.
Amongst the more ridiculous score lines of the past seven years are 5-3 and 6-4 wins for Hassocks. The head-to-head reads 12 victories for the Robins, nine for Down with five draws.
Last time Hassocks played Crawley Down Gatwick
It was a rare example of a low scoring game between Anvils and Robins at the Haven in September. Jack Troak had a second half goal controversially chalked off for offside when Phil Johnson had been hauled down for a blatant penalty in the build up.
Seeing as the Johnson foul happened before the offside, both Down and Hassocks fans expected the spot kick to be awarded. Remarkably, it was not and the visitors were left absolutely fuming.
The mood in the Robins camp was not improved when Oli Leslie went onto strike an 83rd minute winner for the Anvils.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3:00pm 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 programme will be on sale for £1.
