Hassocks hold off late Heath rally for Mid Sussex Derby day delight
The first Mid Sussex Derby at Under 18s level between Hassocks and Haywards Heath Town for four seasons did not disappoint.
Nine goals were shared at Hanbury Park, where the Robins survived a second half Heath rally to run out 5-4 winners.
The result took Hassocks to the top of the early Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division table with two victories from two matches and 11 goals scored.
Tougher tests undoubtedly lie ahead, including next week when last season’s runners up Burgess Hill Town visit the Beacon.
Along with reigning champions St Francis Rangers, there are plenty more derby days to come for the Robins.
Hassocks have forged a strong link with Whitehawk at Under 18s level for the coming season. Several players have dual-signed for the Hawks Isthmian Youth League team and Hassocks in the Southern Combination.
That helps give the Robins greater strength in depth, so much so that Hassocks can still score five times in a game even without the services of leading scorer Alex Brewer.
The striker plundered four of the Robins goals in the 6-1 win over Shoreham a week earlier but was unavailable for the short trip to Haywards Heath.
His place was taken by Josh Nandhra, who seamlessly slotted in by scoring a hat-trick. There were two other changes for Hassocks. George Gladding missed out and Will Hatley dropped down to the bench.
Joining Nandhra in coming into the side were his brother Kian and Ed Tobias. Kian Nandhra has already made his senior debut for the Robins, coming off the bench in the 4-1 win over Lingfield last month.
Tobias meanwhile won Players’ Player of the Season last year having been an ever-present and breaking into the Under 23s.
Not wanting to be completely outshone by his brother, Kian Nandhra joined Josh on the scoresheet. The other Robins goal came from Charlie Fogden, grabbing his first in Hassocks colours.
All four Heath goals came after the break. Substitute Oscar Kemp showed Hassocks that the second half was going to be a much tougher 45 minutes than the first, scoring twice in the space of 120 seconds immediately following the restart.
Liam Deere provided the third for Heath on the hour mark. The Robins regrouped after that and managed to get through the next 30 minutes without conceding, up until Sam Quickfall struck in injury time.
Thankfully for Hassocks, there was insufficient time after that for the Bluebells to find an equaliser and so the three points and local bragging rights went back to the Beacon.
Hassocks: Theo Bradley, Charlie Fogden, Ed Tobias, Ben Foster, Sam Fernley, Kian Nandhra, Sam Dean, Oliver Goswamy, Evan China, Josh Nandhra, Cavan Chedzey.
Subs: Marko Gabric, Will Hartley (used).
