Hassocks head to Eastbourne Town for playoff semi
Hassocks head to the Saffrons to take on Southern Combination Premier Division runners up Eastbourne Town in the promotion playoff semi final.
The winners will face either Crowborough Athletic or Newhaven in the final on Sunday, when a place in the Isthmian League for next season will be up for grabs.
Hassocks will head to the Sunshine Coast on a high from their 5-1 thrashing of the Dockers on Saturday. The Robins knew a point guaranteed their playoff spot, going onto secure it in some style despite playing for over an hour with only 10 men.
Town meanwhile have been on a barnstorming run of their own. Unbeaten since January 6th, Jude Macdonald’s side have won 14 and drawn one of their past 15 league matches to storm to a second placed finish after champions Steyning Town.
Eastbourne Town this season
Since they returned to the Southern Combination League from the Isthmian a decade ago, Eastbourne Town have developed a reputation for making slow starts to the season followed by strong finishes.
In previous campaigns, that has always left with them too much to do in terms of getting into the promotion picture. The introduction of the playoffs for 2023-24, however, will suit them well.
Town’s Premier Division record for the campaign reads 26 wins, four draws and eight defeats. They finished for points ahead of Hassocks in the standings and six behind title winners Steyning.
Eastbourne Town v Hassocks head-to-head
It is a fixture which Eastbourne Town tend to enjoy. Of 44 previous matches, Town have won 25. There have been seven draws and just 12 Hassocks victories.
The good news from a Robins point of view is that three of those wins have come in the past four matches.
Hassocks were 3-0 victors at the Saffrons in November, inflicting upon Town their heaviest home defeat of the season.
The sides had drawn 1-1 at the Beacon on the opening day back in July, whilst the Robins did a double over Town last season with a 1-0 Valentine’s Day win on the Sunshine Coast followed by a superb 4-1 triumph in Mid Sussex,
Last time Hassocks played Eastbourne Town
That aforementioned trip to the Saffrons five months ago was one of the best performances and results of the season for the Robins.
Liam Benson opened the scoring on 63 minutes with what proved to be his final goal in a Hassocks shirt before his move to Haywards Heath Town.
The Robins then added gloss to the final score through two more added in injury time. Josh Mundy notched his first for the club, followed by tall striker Jamie Wilkes rounding off the rout.
How to get to the Saffrons
The normal route to Eastbourne via the A27 and the A2770, following the road towards Eastbourne town centre.
Turn right into The Goffs just before reaching the main station followed by an immediate left into Southfields Road. That is followed by another right into Dittons Road with the Saffrons on the left at the end of the road.
For those travelling by train, the Saffrons is around 400 metres from Eastbourne station. Kick off is at 7:45pm.
