Five matches for Hassocks over the festive period
Hassocks will be looking to keep their top six challenge going through December, when they will play five Southern Combination League Premier Division matches.
The month gets underway with a trip to Bexhill United on Saturday 2nd, kick off at 3pm. Having finished in the top seven in their two Premier Division seasons so far, the Pirates are undergoing something of a transitional campaign under new management.
Long-standing boss Ryan Light stood down at the end of 2022-23 with his place taken by Under 21s manager John Wright.
After making a slow start, Bexhill are showing signs of improvement and with the Polegrove always a tough place to go, the Robins will need to be at their best to make the long journey home with something to show for their efforts.
Saturday 9th sees Loxwood visit the Beacon in a 2pm kick off. Hassocks beat the Magpies 3-0 at the Nest earlier in the season, with games between the two clubs always having a little extra edge thanks to the number of players who have switched between the two in the past three seasons.
Hassocks travel to the New Defence, home of Horley Town to take on Lingfield in their final fixture before Christmas. That one is a 3pm kick off, where the Robins will be hoping to repeat their 4-1 win from August.
Then comes one of the highlights of the season when Haywards Heath Town visit the Beacon on Boxing Day for an eagerly anticipated Mid Sussex Derby.
Kick off is at 11am and if the entertainment factor is anything like when the sides drew 2-2 in the Peter Bentley League Cup back in October, it will be a morning of football not to be missed.
Hassocks round off 2023 with a trip to Shoreham on Saturday 30th, kick off 3pm. It will be the Robins’ first visit to Middle Road since December 2018, when a Liam Benson strike and a man-of-the-match performance from Josh Green in goal gave Hassocks a 1-0 victory.
The Under 23s have two December fixtures scheduled. Their sole North Division match is away at Roffey on Thursday 7th, 7.30pm kick off. They are then in League Cup action at home to Hailsham Town on Thursday 14th at 7:45pm.
The Under 18s will also face Roffey in their League Cup on Sunday 10th December in an 11am kick off at Bartholomew Way.
Central Division matches are either side of that one. Sunday 3rd December is a home game against Saltdean United and Sunday 17th sees St Francis Rangers visit the Beacon. Both start at 11am.
The Ladies play twice in December. Bognor Regis Town are the visitors to the Beacon on Sunday 10th at 2pm.
A difficult trip then follows a week later on Sunday 17th to take on a Bromley side who possess one of two 100 percent records in the London & South East Regional Women’s League Division One South.
The Veterans sole December fixture is away at Rotherfield on Sunday 10th December. Kick off there is 2pm.
