Magic of the Emirates FA Cup comes to the Beacon
It is that time of year again when the Magic of the Emirates FA Cup graces non-league grounds up and down the country with the extra preliminary round of the competition.
Hassocks and Erith Town of the Southern Counties East Premier Division will meet at the Beacon with healthy prize money and glory on the line, not to mention a Wembley final a mere 13 wins away.
The Robins have added incentive to progress. If Hassocks manage to overcome Erith and Burgess Hill Town beat Sutton Common Rovers in their own extra preliminary tie, then Robins and Hillians will meet in a competitive match for the first time in 20 years in the next round of the competition.
Easier said than done, of course. Hassocks have a particularly poor record against teams from the Southern Counties East, their most recent victory over a side from the Kent-based league coming in 2005. The opponents that day? Erith Town.
Fast forward the best part of two decades and the Dockers are one of the best teams in the Southern Counties East and with an impressive cup pedigree. Up against a Hassocks side unbeaten so far this season, a fascinating afternoon of football lies in store.
Erith Town last season
Like the Robins, Erith enjoyed their best campaign since 2013-14 last time out. A fourth placed finish was their second highest ever placing after the third place achieved nine years previously.
It also maintained their fine record of finishing in the top six in each of the last three completed campaigns.
Even more impressive than the Dockers’ league form were there performances in the national knockout competitions.
In the FA Cup, Erith went all the way to the first qualifying round, where they were eliminated by Three Bridges.
Bridges famously went onto draw Hereford United at home later in the competition, putting up a brave fight before elimination in front of a huge crowd at Jubilee Field.
Included amongst Erithe’s victims in that FA Cup run were Pagham, whom the Dockers hammered 4-0 at Nyetimber Lane.
Five victories in the FA Vase took the Dockers to the fourth round and a shootout defeat to Bridgwater United.
Two of those wins came against Southern Combination League clubs, Erith winning 6-0 over Loxwood in the first qualifying round before knocking out Premier Division runners up Crawley Down Gatwick in round one.
Hassocks v Eirth Town head-to-head
This latest FA Cup meeting will be the fifth clash between Robins and Dockers, the previous for all having also come in the world’s greatest cup competition.
Hassocks have two wins to their name, a 3-1 preliminary qualifying round replay victory at the Beacon in August 2000 and that aforementioned win in 2005 when Pat Harding scored twice and Anthony Hibbert once in a 3-0 success.
One game has ended level, a 2-2 draw at the Erith Sports Stadium leading to that Beacon replay in 2000. The Dockers meanwhile won on their previous visit to Mid Sussex five years ago, running out 3-1 victors.
Last time Hassocks played Erith Town
Spencer Slaughter gave Hassocks a seventh minute lead that afternoon but the Robins were not ahead for long, Alex Nelson levelling proceedings just three minutes later.
Erith went into the break 2-1 head thanks to Luis Valencia. It was Valencia who rounded off the scoring right at the death when the Dockers punished Hassocks on the counter attack.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3:00pm and admission is £8 adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles and in the Clubhouse.
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 40 page printed programme will be on sale for £1.
Please note that due to Pride and the Aslef union’s overtime ban, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has cancelled all Southern and Thameslink trains between Brighton and Three Bridges.
For public transport to the Beacon, please take Metrobus 271 which stops outside the neighbouring South Downs Nurseries Garden Centre.
