Nothing can separate top two in entertaining goalless draw
Nothing could separate the top two in the Southern Combination League Under 23 North Division as Hassocks and Broadbridge Heath played out a 0-0 draw at the Beacon.
The scoreline might suggest this was a dull 90 minutes but in reality, it was anything but. These two sides have consistently proven themselves the best in the division over the past three seasons and what played out was an entertaining encounter with some excellent football played.
Hassocks are the reigning North Division champions, Heath the title winners of the previous season who have made it through the current campaign unbeaten so far.
The visitors arrived in Mid Sussex four points clear at the top, a gap they maintain thanks to the stalemate.
Hassocks therefore find themselves relying on the Bears dropping points over their three remaining matches to retain their title.
That is not beyond the realms of possibility. Heath still have to play a Horsham YMCA side who have only just dropped out of the title picture, followed by a tricky local derby at Roffey and a final fixture away at Oakwood.
Hassocks meanwhile take on Steyning Town at the Beacon before travelling to Roffey and Horley Town. The Robins will probably need nine points from nine based on Heath’s formidable form this season, as well the Bears slipping up somewhere along the way.
There were three changes from the Hassocks XI who picked up an excellent 1-0 win at Horsham YMCA four days earlier.
Faris Khalloqui scored the only goal at the Herbert Direct Stadium but he was unavailable ahead of the first team’s final match of the season this coming Saturday against Newhaven.
Likewise, Josh Mundy missed out. Their places were taken by Under 18s duo Charlie Fogden and Ed Tobias, the latter of whom was making his first start of the season.
The other change saw youth team leading scorer Cavan Chedzey take over in attack from Julian Durrand, who dropped to the bench.
Neither Jack Thomas nor opposite number Monty Watson-Price were overly troubled in the first half. The ball was moved around nicely and although a couple of openings did appear, there were no serious inroads made on goal.
That changed after the break. Knowing they needed three points more than the visitors, Hassocks tried to force the issue more. Heath responded by looking dangerous on the counter.
Alfie Loversidge almost broke the deadlock when his right wing cross beat Watson-Price, only to smash against the crossbar.
Harry Sutton did likewise for Heath with a distance effort from 25 yards that dipped over Thomas and onto the woodwork.
Thomas showed good handling after from a couple of dangerous opportunities for the Bears. The Hassocks defence meanwhile did superbly to marshal a Heath frontline containing North Division leading scorer, Wiktor Maznica.
Chedzey looked like he might have won it for Hassocks late on when putting the ball beyond Watson-Price, only for Sean Terry to get back and produce a fine clearance off the line.
A draw was probably the right result come the full time whistle of what was a good advert for Under 23s football.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, Ben Hicks, Bradley Tighe, Ed Tobias, Charlie Fogden, Alfie Loversidge, Noah McHale, Alex Wintle, Sam Fernley, Cavan Chedzey, Nathan Miles.
Subs: Julian Durand, Jack Duckett, Jack Smith, Evan China (used).
