Hassocks back from four weeks out with convincing win at Steyning
After four weeks without a game, Hassocks Under 23s knew they were guaranteed a return to action with a trip to the 3G pitch of the Birchwood Ground.
The Robins showed no signs of rustiness, winning 4-1 against Steyning Town to remain a point behind North Division leaders Broadbridge Heath.
With that previous outing being in League Cup action against Oakwood, you had to go back six weeks to find the last time Hassocks played in the bread and butter of the Southern Combination Under 23 North Division.
That was a stunning 5-1 victory over a Lingfield outfit who had beaten Hassocks 6-1 the previous month. It has been a long wait for the Robins to recommence their attempted defence of the league title.
Hassocks were in good mood before kick off as they debuted their new yellow away kit, very kindly sponsored by Tighe Scaffolding.
The club would once again like to place its thanks on the record to Jason Tighe, who continues to offer fantastic support to the Robins.
Jason looked very happy with the kit. Some who saw him even went so far as to say they had not seen him so pleased to be in Steyning since he won the main prize in the famous Shooting Field meat raffle back in 2022.
Hassocks showed just two changes from their most recent outing last month when winning 3-1 at Oakwood in the League Cup.
Julian Durand has since stepped up to the first team squad, including scoring his first senior goal 12 days ago coming off the bench at Crowborough Athletic.
Durand then led the line following Liam Benson’s departure to Haywards Heath Town in Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Peacehaven & Telscombe, being named the Robins man-of-the-match along the way.
He was therefore absent for the trip to Steyning, as was George Mercer. Billy Dove took over from Mercer whilst Durand was replaced up in attack by Oliver Parker-Williams.
Parker-Williams made the most of his promotion from the bench, getting on the scoresheet with his first goal of the campaign.
Micael Fatela continued his red hot form since receiving long-awaited international clearance by scoring for the third time in as many appearances and Under 18s forward Jack Duckett continues to impress, notching his fourth goal in five matches.
The Robins posed plenty of attacking threat from the bench, including first team winger Tom Frankland working his way back from injury and Cavan Chedzey, who scored seven times as the Under 18s beat Mile Oak 9-0 on Sunday.
Kian Nandhra was also on target in that big win for the youth team and he provided the fourth Hassocks goal here after coming on.
The Robins were denied a clean sheet when Jared Rance netted a consolation for Steyning with 15 minutes remaining.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Ben Hicks, Dan Turner, Billy Dove, Noah McHale, Wes Tighe, Alex Wintle, Sam Fernley, Oliver Parker-Williams, Micael Fatela, Jack Duckett.
Subs: Tom Frankland, Kian Nandhra, Jack Smith, Cavan Chedzey, Charlie Fogden.
