Hassocks hit eight to move into last eight past harrowed Hailsham
It was a great eight for Hassocks Under 23s in their final game of 2023 as they hammered Hailsham Town 8-1 at the Beacon in the Southern Combination Under 23 League Cup.
Victory moved the Robins into the quarter finals of the competition, a stage they have only reached on two previous occasions.
Both of those adventures in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 were ended in the semi finals. If Hassocks are to make it to the final four this season, then they will need to overcome either fellow North Division club Horley Town or Crowborough Athletic of the East Division next.
It is also from the East Division that Hailsham hail. The Stringers arrived in Mid Sussex on a cold but clear evening occupying 7th spot in the table.
Hassocks though were not about to take their opponents lightly. In their most recent outing a fortnight ago, the Robins bowed out of the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup in a 4-0 home defeat to Bexhill United.
The Pirates sit just one place and three points better off in the East Division standings than Hailsham, which suggested this was going to be another tough assignment.
Hassocks therefore deserve a lot of credit for the way they ruthlessly went about their business, banishing the demons of that heavy loss to Bexhill.
The Robins made three changes, all coming in attack. Nathan Miles and Julian Durand returned to the starting XI, whilst there was a first Under 23s appearance for Big Alex Fair.
Fair has missed the last few weeks of first team action with the Robins making the most of the opportunity to get some minutes into his legs.
The promise of Cruyff Turns galore added around three people to the attendance. Dropping out were Charlie Fogden, Oliver Parker-Williams and Jack Duckett.
Miles enjoyed a fruitful evening as he helped himself to four goals. The popular striker now has seven in four appearances for the Under 23s, although they have all come from two games – the other being a hat-trick at Oakwood in September.
There was also a rare yellow card for Miles. Turns out that not even scoring four times will convince Johnsy to let you off paying the £12 fine for a booking, as Miles found out afterwards.
Sporting the captain’s armband, Dan Turner bagged a brace of his own from centre back and Alex Wintle was also on target.
The Hassocks scoring was rounded off by Under 18s striker Kian Nandhra, who notched from the bench.
Jack Thomas and his defence were denied a clean sheet in the 68th minute when Jose Cornwall struck a consolation goal for the Stringers.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Ben Hicks, Dan Turner, Billy Dove, Sam Fernley, Noah McHale, Alex Wintle, Micael Fatela, Alex Fair, Nathan Miles, Julian Durand.
Subs: Kian Nandhra, Wes Tighe, Ben Cheverton, Oliver Goswamy, Evan China (used).
