Hassocks take on Combined Counties League outfit the Salts at South Park FC
After two wins from two pre-season games so far, Hassocks will need to be at the races as they travel to South Park to take on Epsom & Ewell.
The sides met a year ago at the Beacon when a A Trialist scored the only goal of the game for the Salts with just 18 seconds on the clock.
Epsom impressed that day to the point that most in the bumper 127 crowd predicted the Salts would end the campaign winning promotion from Division One of the Southern Combination League.
And that they duly did. After finishing as runners up to champions Shoreham, Epsom successfully navigated the playoffs to beat Wick in the final and earn promotion to the Premier Division.
Except that things have not quite worked out like that. Whilst the Salts will play step five football in 2023-24, it will be back in the Combined Counties League after the Football Association enforced a sideways move.
That ends Epsom’s two-year stay in the Southern Combination. Their other season was a promotion near-miss, the Salts eliminated by Midhurst & Easebourne in the semi finals of the playoffs. Midhurst also beat Epsom in the Division One Cup final.
The Salts’ elevation to step five means Hassocks are essentially playing a club from exactly the same level. That will mean Epsom providing the toughest test of pre-season so far for James Westlake and his players.
Hassocks ran out 5-2 winners at Division One outfit Billingshurst on Saturday to follow up on a 4-1 victory at Kent Premier outfit Peckham Town seven days earlier.
Epsom meanwhile were beaten 1-0 by Stanfield on Saturday with the goal coming late in the day. They won their first friendly 4-1 against Feltham on July 1st.
With Epsom unable to use the ground they will share with Cobham for this season, Hassocks will face the Salts at the home of South Park in Reigate.
To get to King George’s Field, head up the A23/M23 and exit at Junction 10 for Gatwick Airport. Follow the A217 Reigate Road all the way to Reigate before turning left onto Sandcross Lane next to the Beehive Pub.
At the end of Sandcross Lane, turn left at the t-junction. Follow the road past Sandcross Primary School and turn left onto Whitehall Lane, where you will find the ground a little way down. Kick off is at 7:30pm and admission is by donation to Epsom Disabled Riding Association.
