Back-to-back home games as Robins welcome Little Common to the Beacon
Hot on the heels of last week’s 4-0 win over Loxwood, Hassocks are back at the Beacon this Saturday welcoming Little Common in Southern Combination Premier Division action.
The Robins are chasing a fourth win in a row to strengthen their playoff bid having bounced back in impressive fashion from Mid Sussex Derby defeat against Haywards Heath Town on Boxing Day.
It will not be easy though against a Common side who have made the long journey to Mid Sussex worthwhile in recent seasons.
Since winning promotion to the top flight in 2018, Little Common are yet to lose at the Beacon. You have to go back to the 1993-94 season to find the last time Hassocks were victorious over Common on home soil.
The Robins have at least become rather adept at ending such records under James Westlake. Will another tumble this Saturday?
Little Common this season
Manager Russell Eldridge is now into his 12th season at the helm, in which time he has helped take Common from Division Two to the highest level the club has ever played.
Last season saw Common finish 11th – one place and two points below Hassocks in the Premier Division table.
The current campaign is following a similar path so far. Common are currently eight points off the top half but do have a game in hand over 10th place Lingfield.
They are also in with a shot of making a first ever senior football final in the Peter Bentley League Cup. Common will face Crowborough Athletic in the quarter finals of the competition, having already eliminated local rivals Bexhill United and Crawley Down Gatwick.
Their Peter Bentley results show Common are capable of being anyone on their day, whilst they have also claimed impressive league wins over the likes of Crowborough, Lingfield and Crawley Down.
As for players Hassocks should be wary of, it is hard to look beyond club legend Lewis Hole, who recently passed the frankly astonishing 400 goal mark for the club.
Hassocks v Little Common head-to-head
The two sides have met on 20 previous occasions. Seven of those matches have come in the Premier Division, with just one Hassocks win in that competition so far – the 4-1 success at Little Common Recreation Ground at the end of September.
A Sussex RUR Charity Cup thriller in 2011 ended 5-5 at the Beacon with Common progressing on penalties. The other 12 games took place in the late 1980s and early 1900s in Division One.
In terms of the overall head-to-head across all 20 meetings, the Robins have six wins and Common eight, leaving six draws.
Last time Hassocks played Little Common
It was an excellent three points on the road for Hassocks earlier in the season, securing a first completive win over Common since 1994.
Sean Stephenson struck in the 37th minute but a Jamie Bunn equaliser four minutes later ensured the sides went into half time level.
The second half saw the Robins ran riot. In the space of 20 minutes, Liam Benson, Super Pat Harding and an own goal gave Hassocks a superb 4-1 success.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 2pm and admission is £8 adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles and in the Clubhouse.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink, and the Robins Bar was a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries along with other alcohol. Dogs are welcome and a printed programme will be on sale for £1.
If using Google Maps to walk from Hassocks Station or the village, please do not take the footpath into Butcher’s Wood. There is no crossing point over the railway line or way of entering the Beacon.
Instead, follow Keymer Road towards Hurstpierpoint, turn left at Stonepound crossroads and walk down London Road towards the ground.
