Nine goals in seven September games for the Robins leading scorer
Flowing almost as freely as the goals for Liam Benson so far this season are the Hassocks Player of the Month awards.
The in-form forward scored nine times through September to be named the best Robin across the month, adding to six goals in August which also saw him take home the relevant award.
His total of 15 leaves Benson top of the Southern Combination Premier Division scoring charts and just five away from eclipsing his previous best for a season of 19, set in the last campaign.
Benson’s first goals of September came midway through the month, when he scored twice in 13 minutes to complete the 5-0 rout of AFC Varndeanians at the Beacon.
Both were one-on-ones. The first saw Benson produce a delicate chip over Jordan Hawkins as the Varndeanians goalkeeper dived at his feet.
For the second, Benson outsprinted the visiting defence from inside his own half to latch onto a Kyle Woolven through ball, round Hawkins and roll into an empty net.
Benson scored another brace in the chaotic 5-4 FA Vase win at Sheerwater. He opened the scoring with a towering header from an Alfie Loversidge cross, followed by showing some smart reactions to convert the rebound after Billy Wilson had saved his initial penalty.
The trip to Selsey in the Peter Bentley League Cup brought the first four-goal haul of Benson’s career. Remarkably, three of his four goals came from headers as Hassocks ran out 5-1 winners at the Seal Bay Stadium.
Benson then rounded off his excellent September by getting on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win away against Little Common.
Jamie Wilkes took second place in the September Player of the Month award for a series of excellent performances both in midfield and just behind Benson as a number 10.
Wilkes spent most of the Varndeanians victory leading the visiting defence on a merry dance, including when teeing up Loversidge for the third Hassocks goal.
The tall striker was then was one of the few players who shone during the disappointing Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup second round exit against Roffey.
And at Sheerwater, it was the rangy Wilkes who earned the penalty which Benson put into the back of the net at the second time of asking.
Having waited nearly 18 months to score because of injuries, Loversidge netted three times to finish third in September Player of the Month.
He opened the scoring in the 2-1 Sussex Transport Senior Cup win at AFC Uckfield Town with further goals following in the wins over AFC Varndeanians and away at Sheerwater.
