Hassocks hit sixth spot and progress in two cups
The Robins were flying through the third month of the 2022-23 Southern Combination League season, with October bringing four wins, two draws and just a single defeat from seven outings.
Goals at the end of either half got things off to a good start as Hassocks won 2-0 at Loxwood. Phil Johnson converted a Jack Troak cross to put the Robins into the lead with virtually the last kick before the interval.
Hassocks had to weather a bit of a storm in the final 20 minutes before Pat Harding wrapped the game up with 60 seconds of normal time remaining.
Racing onto a bouncing ball, Harding opened up his body up and bent a stunning effort into the top corner for his first goal since returning from Burgess Hill Town.
The scenes in the changing room were quite something afterwards, a chorus of “Super Pat Harding” being heard across Plaistow Road.
AFC Varndeanians were the visitors to the Beacon a week later and just one month after they had eliminated Hassocks from the Peter Bentley League Cup via a 2-0 win in Mid Sussex.
This time around, the scoreline was reversed as the Robins picked up another three points. Tall Striker Jamie Wilkes ran onto a half-cleared Bradley Tighe free kick to hit a rasping volley without breaking stride from outside the box to give Hassocks a first half lead.
A brilliant team goal provided the second five minutes after the break. Leon Turner and Liam Benson combined to carve apart the Varndeanians defence, leaving Turner to square and Johnson to convert from five yards.
There was midweek Sussex Senior Cup action next as former Robins head coach Brad Sweetman brought his Saltdean United side to the Beacon.
As late as the 81st minute, it looked like Sweetman was going to mark his return by eliminating Hassocks from the competition with the Tigers deservedly leading 2-1 after a poor performance from the hosts.
Troak had put the Robins ahead on 12 minutes, only for ex-Hassocks winger Lucas Tyrrell and Jesse Burbidge to turn things around and move Saltdean ahead.
Alex Harris had to make some vital interventions to keep the Robins in it, paving the way for that man Johnson to strike an equaliser via a fortuitous deflection so heavy it could have gone down as an own goal.
Lady luck continued to shine on the Robins in the lottery of penalties. A roller coaster shootout saw 16 spot kicks taken, Hassocks missing two and Saltdean three to give the hosts a 6-5 victory.
A first trip to Crowborough Athletic since 2014 looked posed a tough examination of the Robins. It was one they passed, picking up their most impressive three points of the season up to that point via a 3-2 victory.
All the goals at the Crowborough Community came in the first half. Troak scored inside of seven minutes and when Johnson converted an 18th minute penalty after Harvey Blake was brought down in the box, Hassocks were look comfortable.
The Crows soon responded however, and two goals in eight minutes brought back parity. John Sinclair and Lucas Murrain did the damage in the 27th and 35th minutes respectively.
More drama – the last of the game as it turned out – arrived before the break. Turner and Blake linked up down the right with the latter making the by-line and pulling back for Benson to convert on the stretch from close range.
A much more mundane affair followed all that excitement when Eastbourne United visited the Beacon. Hassocks sat sixth and United fifth in the table and nothing could separate them in a 0-0 draw.
Despite the impression given by the scoreline, it was a relatively entertaining match. Both sides carved out decent opportunities, the Robins feeling that a Johnson effort on 12 minutes ruled out for offside should have stood.
United came closest when substitute Arron Hopkinson had a big chance brilliantly deflected over the bar by the outstanding Alex Bygraves in the closing stages.
History was made three days later as for the first time, a Hassocks game was streamed live on the internet. And those who tuned into the Your Instant Replay YouTube channel for the Robins’ Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup second round clash at Forest Row were treated to a Johnson masterclass.
Four goals in the opening 45 minutes from Johnson had the game won before Hassocks headed into the Tinsley Lane changing rooms for their half time tea.
Johnson was subsequently withdrawn at the interval with his work done. The Robins added one further goal to wrap up a 5-0 victory, Under 18s midfielder Sam Fernley marking his debut from the bench by helping tee up Under 23s top scorer Danny Reid for his first senior goal.
The only defeat of October came in the final game of the month away at Newhaven. Bailie Rogers saw red for the Dockers with only 24 minutes on the clock, giving Hassocks more than an hour to play against 10 men.
They failed to take advantage of the situation sadly, goals from Alfie Rogers and Lee Robinson securing a 2-0 Newhaven win in a pretty turgid affair.
Having suffered two defeats from four September matches, the Under 23s got their season back on track with four wins out of four through October.
Reid and Charlie Broad scored braces in a 6-2 win over Horsham YMCA. Kieran Dimelow and Arthur Rawlingson also found the back of the net, although the evening was marred when Robins goalkeeper Callum Thompson suffered a nasty shoulder fracture and dislocation towards the end.
Under 18s number one Jack Thomas was subsequently promoted into the Under 23s and he kept a clean sheet on his debut deputising for Thompson as Hassocks beat Lingfield 2-0. Broad again scored along with George Mercer.
The Robins moved to the top of the North Division in their next game, a gritty 2-1 win at Loxwood. The Magpies were the better side for much of the game and created more clear cut opportunities.
But as the age-old saying goes, it is the sign of a good side to win when you do not play well. Goals from Sam Rogers and Will Broomfield ensured Hassocks did just that.
A League Cup second round adventure at Chessington & Hook United rounded off the month, where a very youthful Robins side came away with a 5-1 victory.
Neil Parker took seven Under 18s players with him to Chalky Lane. Five started, two came off the bench and four were debutants.
Two of them scored four of the Robins’ five goals. Fernley and Alex Wintle both notched twice with Dimelow the other Hassocks scorer.
The Under 18s began October with a 3-2 Mid Sussex Derby defeat to Burgess Hill Town. Alex Brewer got both the goals, after which things improved with three wins and a draw through to the end of October.
A hat-trick from Brewer, two Will Varley goals and one apiece for Ed Tobias and Oliver Parker-Williams delivered a 7-0 rout of Mile Oak.
Brewer, Toby Munt and Ryan Goss were all on target in a 3-1 win over AFC Varndeanians. Brewer continued his relentless scoring run with the Hassocks goal in a 1-1 draw at Shoreham.
The month was rounded off by a 4-0 win over Lancing. Varley scored twice, George Gladding once with the final goal coming from… who else, but Brewer.
Hassocks Ladies continued their free-scoring start to the campaign. Three victories extended their 100 percent record, in which they plundered 23 goals.
Denne Park were hammered 8-1 away from home. Katherine Chappell scored four times, Kirsten Mair twice and there were goals for Izzy Cloke and Ellie Moquet.
An even bigger win came in the second round of the Sussex County Women’s League Cup. Chappell and Jess Craig hit four goals apiece in a 9-1 victory at AFC Uckfield Town. Mia Pordage was the other scorer.
Braces from Chappell and Pordage helped the Robins on their way to a 6-0 win in their final match of October at Seaford Town. Mair and Maddie Cannon joined them on the scoresheet.
Hassocks Veterans belatedly played their first game of the season, losing 3-2 to AFC Varndeanians. Harding and Paul Armstrong got the Robins goals and their strikes might have been enough if Varndeanians did not have Joe Keehan in their side.
Keehan once cost Rushden & Diamonds a rumoured £18,000 – approximately £18,000 more than any member of the Hassocks squad had fetched – and he hit a sensational hat-trick to win the game for Vs.
