Horley hammer Hassocks to end dreams of lifting League Cup
The Southern Combination League Under 23 Cup has never proven the kindest competition to Hassocks. And their exit from the competition at the 2023-24 quarter final stage was particularly brutal.
Fellow North Division side Horley Town came to the Beacon and blew the Robins away, running out convincing 4-0 winners to set up a big semi against Eastbourne Town.
The Clarets are one of those teams who can beat anyone on their day. They had shown that in the previous two stages of the League Cup.
Broadbridge Heath are yet to lose a North Division game but their hopes of a league and cup double were ended when Horley beat them 1-0 at the New Defence in round two.
The Clarets followed up with victory over Crowborough Athletic to book their quarter final visit to Mid Sussex.
Horley’s biggest problem is inconsistency, which explains why they sit fifth in the table whilst a four-way battle for the North Division title plays out between Broadbridge Heath, Horsham YMCA, Lingfield and Hassocks.
Unfortunately for the Robins, the Clarets chose this day to give one of their best performances of the campaign. With Hassocks themselves below par, it meant the hosts were blown away.
The Robins were forced into six changes from their 4-1 Mid Sussex Derby victory over St Francis Rangers last time out.
James Emery, Tom Frankland, Ben Hicks, Alfie Loversidge and Under 18s top scorer Cavan Chedzey all missed out.
Jack Thomas returned in goal in place of Emery. First teamers Josh Mundy and Bradley Tighe came in to get minutes under their belts having been sat on the bench in recent weeks.
Alex Wintle was back in the starting XI and the Robins were boosted by the availability of Josh Nandhra, now a regular in the first team setup at Whitehawk thanks to his performances for the Robins so far this season.
Tighe, Mundy and Nandhra gave Hassocks a strong spine running through their side but it was still not enough to lay a glove on Horley.
Cordell Whyte scored twice for the Clarets with their other goals coming via Samy Luard and Tommy McKenna, who always seems to net against the Robins.
Elimination made it three quarter or semi final exits for Hassocks in the past four seasons in which the League Cup has been played to a finish.
The Robins reached the last four in both the 2018-19 and 2021-22 campaigns. Last season saw a disappointing third round exit at lowly West Division side East Preston – although that may well have helped Hassocks go onto win the North Division championship by reducing the number of games the Robins had to play.
Hassocks get back to the day job of defending their title at home to Steyning Town next Thursday. As for Horley, if they keep playing like this then who would bet against them lifting the League Cup in a couple of months?
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Charlie Fogden, Bradley Tighe, Billy Dove, Sam Fernley, Alex Wintle, Noah McHale, Josh Mundy, Julian Durand, Josh Nandhra, Nathan Miles.
Subs: Kian Nandhra, Jack Smith, Evan China, Ed Tobias, Wes Tighe (used).
