Young Robins continue to rack up the goals with five past Oak
Having been involved in two high-scoring games decided by a single goal in the past fortnight, there was much less drama as Hassocks Under 18s headed to Mile Oak.
The Recreation Ground is always a difficult place to come, as evidenced by Oak having won two from two at home so far this season – including an impressive 4-2 win over reigning Southern Combination Under 18 Central Division champions St Francis Rangers.
Hassocks though made easy work of their visit, running out 5-0 winners to secure three points and a first clean sheet of the campaign for Theo Bradley and his defence.
The result got the Robins back to winning ways after the heartbreak of losing 4-3 to a late goal against Burgess Hill Town at the Beacon last Sunday.
A week before that and another ridiculous 90 minutes of football had seen the Robins edge out Haywards Heath Town 5-4 at Hanbury Park.
This Hassocks side are clearly going to score a lot of goals this season. If they can tighten up at the other end, then who knows how far this talented group can go?
The Robins made three changes from the team who had gone down to Burgess Hill the previous Sunday. Ed Tobias, Evan China and Cavan Chedzey were all absent. Their places were taken by Ben Foster, George Gladding and Will Varley.
For Varley, it was a first start of the season. Having scored 14 goals from 19 appearances to finish just behind Alex Brewer in the Robins scoring charts last season, his return boosted the side’s firepower even further.
Needless to say, Brewer was on target against Mile Oak with two goals, moving him onto eight from three appearances in the process.
Josh Nandhra also bagged a brace, completing a good 72 hours. Nandhra scored twice for his first goals for the Under 23s on Thursday night in their impressive 5-2 win over Horsham YMCA. The other Robins player on the scoresheet was Oliver Goswamy. For him, a first of the campaign.
Attention now switches from Central Division action to the Sussex Dennis Probee Youth Cup next weekend.
Hassocks have been given a very tough draw away from home against a Crawley Down Gatwick outfit who have won four out of four in all competitions so far this season.
Included in that impressive sequence of results are FA Youth Cup wins over Raynes Park Vale and Three Bridges.
With Down having scored 21 times at an average of more than five a game, entertaining seems likely to be in plentiful supply against an equally free scoring Hassocks side.
Kick off is at 11am and any support you can give the Robins as they look to embark on a County Cup run as a memorable as last season’s adventure to the semi finals will be gratefully received.
Hassocks: Theo Bradley, Charlie Fogden, Ben Foster, Oliver Goswamy, Sam Fernley, Kian Nandhra, Sam Dean, George Gladding, Josh Nandhra, Will Varley, Alex Brewer.
Subs: Toby Munt, Marko Gabric, Will Hartley (used).
