Long trip west takes Robins to venue they suffered heavy defeat at last season
The penultimate month of the Southern Combination Premier Division season gets underway for Hassocks with a long trip to the west of the county to take on Midhurst & Easebourne.
It is not a journey the Robins will remember particularly fondly. The heaviest defeat of the James Westlake era so far took place at the Rotherfield back in December 2022 when Midhurst ran out convincing 5-0 winners.
Much has obviously changed at Hassocks since then. The Robins return in the thick of the playoff race, even after back-to-back home defeats to title chasing duo Crowborough Athletic and Steyning Town.
With the Stags having lost only once at home in the league all season, Hassocks know they are in for another tough afternoon.
Midhurst & Easebourne this season
2022-23 was Midhurst’s first Premier Division campaign for 30 years and it proved to be very much a season of two halves.
The Stags were victorious in nine of their opening 17 matches before failing to win another league game from the start of December onwards. Despite their form diving off a cliff, Midhurst had enough points in the bag to finish 13th.
Greater consistency over an entire campaign was the aim for 2023-24 and the Stags have delivered so far, sitting ninth with 13 wins, seven draws and seven defeats from their 27 matches.
Midhurst & Easebourne v Hassocks head-to-head
Meetings have been few and far between. There have been 11 previous games, six of which Hassocks have won and five of which Midhurst have been triumphant in.
Goals tend to be guaranteed; the Robins have a 6-0 victory at the Beacon and a 6-1 success at the Rotherfield to their name.
Last season meanwhile saw a crazy seven-goal thriller in Mid Sussex where all the goals came in the first half. The Stags won that one 4-3.
That was followed by the aforementioned 5-0 Hassocks defeat away from home in the December return . Fingers crossed for much, much better on this occasion.
Last time Hassocks played Midhurst & Easebourne
The Robins did at least gain some sort of revenge for that hammering when the sides met at the Beacon back in August.
Liam Benson hit a hat-trick inside of the opening 16 minutes as Hassocks ran out 3-1 winners over Midhurst at the Beacon. Matt Rowland provided Midhurst with their consolation in second half injury time.
How to get to the Rotherfield
A surprisingly straightforward if very long journey. Take the A272 through Cowfold, through Billingshurst and through Petworth until you reach Easebourne.
There will be a sharp left turn next to the Cowdray Park Polo Club, after which you take the second right onto Egmont Road.
Turn left at the end onto Dodsley Lane and then an immediate right into Dodsley Grove and the ground is just on your right.
Kick off is at 3pm and admission prices are £7 adults, £3.50 concessions with free entry for under 16s.
