Seventh heaven for Robins as they saunter to success at Saltdean
The one positive to come out of last week’s disappointing 3-2 defeat for Hassocks Under 18s away at Montpelier Villa was it gave the Young Robins an opportunity to show how they respond to setbacks.
And the answer turned out to be very well. Another trip south resulted in a very different outcome with Hassocks returning to winning ways via a superb 7-0 victory at Saltdean United.
Saltdean finished last season in third place in the Southern Combination Under 18 Central Division standings behind Hassocks and champions Burgess Hill Town.
Although it is a much-changed Tigers side for the current campaign who are yet to win a league game, the Robins know from experience that visiting Hill Park is never easy.
Hassocks made four changes from the side who lost at Villa seven days earlier for a variety of reasons, including less than 48 hours having passed since the Under 23s rare were in rare Friday night action when winning 8-0 at Worthing Town.
Ben Foster dropped down to the bench having scored on his Under 23s debut at Palatine Park and the policy of goalkeeper rotation continued as Theo Bradley took over from George Lythgoe. Also missing were Fletcher Fane and Ethan Brasier.
George Drake, Harry Hammond and Evan China all came into the side. China in particular was in a very good mood following his Friday night hat-trick in his first start for the Under 23s. China brought that form with him, getting his Under 18s account for the season up and running.
Captain Oscar Kemp scored two of the goals, moving onto three for the season in the process. Nye Sim got one with another substitute in Will Hartley bagging a brace from the bench.
The final goal came from a third replacement, Charlie Clayton getting off the mark on his Hassocks bow after coming on early in the second half.
Victory rounded off a perfect weekend of three wins from three matches after the first team were victorious on Saturday afternoon when eliminating Horley Town from the FA Vase.
Under 18s top scorer Charlie Bonwick-Adams came on in the closing stages for his senior debut as the Robins ended the game at the New Defence with five teenagers on the pitch.
The Young Robins return to the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground next Sunday for another Central Division fixture, hosting AFC Varndeanians in an 11am kick off.
Hassocks: Theo Bradley, Harry Hammond, Leo Charman, Scott Smith, George Drake, Charlie Bonwick-Adams, Evan China, Wilf Jenkins, Kai Birchley, Oscar Kemp, Nye Sim.
Subs: Liam Deere, Will Hartley, Ben Foster, Charlie Clayton (used).
