Hassocks welcome the Magpies in first game at the Beacon of the New Year
Hassocks play their first home game of 2024 with Loxwood the visitors to the Beacon in a rearranged Southern Combination Premier Division fixture.
The game had originally been due to take place in December as the Robins’ final home fixture before Christmas but was lost to a waterlogged pitch.
Since going down 3-2 at the Beacon on Boxing Day against Haywards Heath Town, Hassocks have picked up six points out of six from away matches at Shoreham and AFC Varndeanians.
Loxwood meanwhile have been in good form since their own festive loss away at Horsham YMCA, taking a point off Midhurst & Easebourne followed by a seriously impressive 2-1 win at Eastbourne Town.
The five most recent meetings between Robins and Magpies have provided 30 goals, suggesting an entertaining afternoon is in store.
Loxwood this season
Former Kingstonian and Corinthians Casuals coach Peter Barkley was appointed as Loxwood boss in the summer, bringing with him the cameras from the popular Bunch of Amateurs YouTube channel.
Barkley worked hard to put together a good squad but results did not really match and after just one win from their opening nine Premier Division matches, he was relieved of his duties.
Taking over was Andy Lampard, part of Barkley’s coaching team and the man who led Roffey to the Division One title in 2021-22 before taking a year out of the game.
Lampard soon proved what a shrewd appointment he was, leading Loxwood to an eye catching 4-3 victory over promotion favourites Haywards Heath Town.
The Magpies have since climbed 12 points clear of the bottom two with over impressive wins following against Bexhill United and the aforementioned success at Eastbourne Town, leaving Loxwood closer to the top 10 than the relegation zone.
Hassocks v Loxwood head-to-head
Hassocks and Loxwood first clashed in the 2014-15 season when the Magpies made their Southern Combination Premier Division bow after a quickfire rise from the West Sussex League. There have been 17 meetings since then, all of which have come in the bread and butter of league football.
The Robins’ record reads five wins, four draws and eight defeats. After a relatively sluggish start in terms of entertainment, the fixture has become something of a goal-fest with increasing level of feistiness because of the links between the clubs.
James Westlake serving as assistant to former Robins midfielder Spencer Slaughter during his time as manager at the Nest means a number of players have swapped Loxwood for Hassocks since that duo returned to the Beacon as players in the autumn of 2021.
In no particular order, the Robins’ ex-Loxwood contingent includes Fraser Trigwell, Sam Smith, Westlake, Lewis Westlake, Tom Frankland and Leon Turner.
Loxwood for their part could call upon former Robins Harvey Enticknap and Dan Webster, whilst Alex Harris is the Magpies’ goalkeeper coach.
Last time Hassocks played Loxwood
Hassocks made the trip to the Nest for their first away game of the season on a pleasant Tuesday night back in August for what turned out to be a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Frankland opened the scoring with a stunning free kick against his former club. Liam Benson doubled the advantage in the second half and a late penalty from Super Pat Harding rounded off the win.
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.
Please note that there are currently major delays when approaching the Beacon from Brighton over Clayton Hill due to temporary traffic lights whilst emergency repairs are made to the road. If travelling via this route, you may wish to allow extra time for your journey.
