Culver Road curse goes on with 10 man Robins held by Lancing
For just the third Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division game this season, Hassocks dropped points as they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Lancing.
There must be something about this part of the world which the Robins do not like. Hassocks’ other draw so far this campaign also came at Culver Road, a six-goal thriller which ended 3-3 against Montpelier Villa back on Bonfire Night.
It was Villa who the Robins faced in their most recent Central Division game, running out 5-0 winners at the Beacon a fortnight ago.
48 hours after that big success and Hassocks had a far less enjoyable experience, exiting the League Cup at the third round stage at the hands of Worthing United.
The Mavericks’ 2-0 win that night combined with this draw against Lancing means Hassocks have now gone two games without a victory for the first time this season.
That Worthing United game was something of a feisty affair and the theme continued here with a very rare red card for the Robins coming the way of Toby Munt for two bookable offences.
Kian Nandhra also saw yellow for Hassocks whilst Callum Erskine and Alfie Knight entered the book for the Lancers.
The Robins gave full debuts to two players as part of three changes from the starting XI who had fallen against the Mavericks 12 days earlier.
Marko Gabric came in for his first start having made eight substitute appearances over the course of the campaign so far.
The other debutant was George Drake, a new signing from St Francis Rangers who Hassocks are hoping will play a big part for the Robins next season.
Munt represented the third change with the players dropping out being Charlie Fogden, Oliver Goswamy and Harry Goatcher.
The return of Munt will be short lived as he will now face a one-game ban for next Sunday’s Mid Sussex Derby against Haywards Heath Town.
Hassocks edged a nine-goal thriller 5-4 with the Bluebells earlier in the season, so that is one not to be missed. Kick off is at 11am at the Beacon.
But back to Culver Road, where Cavan Chedzey was the Hassocks goal scorer via his 19th of the season.
Lancing got on the score sheet via Bruno Cina with the point lifting them up to fourth in the Central Division standings.
Hassocks meanwhile are now five points clear of Burgess Hill Town, who have four games in hand on the Robins.
The sides meet at the Homecall Carpets Stadium on Easter Sunday. The Robins will at least have taken heart from the fact that although the Hillians still have a 100 percent Central Division, they are not unbeatable as Crawley Down Gatwick showed when eliminating them from the League Cup.
Hassocks: George Lythgoe, Toby Munt, Evan China, Ed Tobias, Sam Fernley, Kian Nandhra, Sam Dean, George Gladding, George Drake, Marko Gabric, Cavan Chedzey.
Subs: Freddy Searle (used).
