Great eight in a row for Westlake’s record breaking Robins
History was made at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground as the Robins defeated Eastbourne United 3-1 to win eight successive league games in senior football for the first time.
That James Westlake’s side rewrote the Hassocks record books in one of their toughest Premier Division assignments of the season so far seemed somewhat fitting.
United were themselves on a run of four successive victories, including eliminating the Robins from the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup here last month.
This is not a fixture which has been particularly kind to Hassocks in recent years either. You had to go back 10 matches to the 2018-19 campaign to find the last time the Robins defeated United.
But an early goal from the rangy Jamie Wilkes on his 100th Hassocks appearance helped settle any nerves amongst the home support that United might once more prove Robins’ kryptonite.
A left wing free kick from the outstanding Josh Mundy cannoned off Dan Webster and into the path of Wilkes. The tall striker smashed home using his snazzy new blue Adidas boots.
Another Mundy set piece from the same flank caused more chaos and confusion, almost ending up flying into the back of the net. Ex-Robins goalkeeper James Broadbent made a flying reaction stop to claw it out.
Hassocks quickly recycled possession, Harry Furnell redelivered into the box and a lunging Ruari Farrell lifted just over.
The Robins doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when a magnificent piece of skill from Wilkes put Harry Furnell clear.
Harvey Enticknap was proving an industrious presence in midfield on his first start since returning to Hassocks from Crawley Down Gatwick, nicking possession off Charlie Ball on halfway.
Enticknap scooped towards Wilkes, who leapt into the air and produced an acrobatic back heel flick onto the chest of Furnell.
The left winger did the rest, advancing to the edge of the United box and picking out the top corner with aplomb.
Tempers apparently flared in the tunnel at the break and United certainly appeared more fired up during a second half which ebbed and flowed.
Broadbent was the first of the two goalkeepers called into action, saving low down from Wilkes when an Alfie Loversidge header created an opening.
Brown was big and bold next in punching away a Ridwan Euba cross. Seconds later and Brown had to show good hands in the slippery conditions, holding a rasping Max Thompson volley from distance.
Broadbent kept United in it with a superb double save on the hour mark. He somehow got down at the last moment to deny a Furnell shot through a crowd, then recovered and spread himself to block Ruari Farrell’s follow up from point-blank range.
From coming close to going 3-0 ahead, Hassocks instead saw their lead cut to 2-1 as United went straight up the other end and scored.
A Gary Ingram cross was headed against the bar by Ball. Thompson gobbled up the rebound from close range.
United thought they had levelled just two minutes later when Webster volleyed home from 12 yards. Up though went the assistant’s flag, indicating Ball’s corner had swung out of play prior to Jack Samways heading back across goal.
The Robins gathered themselves and went back on the attack. Broadbent plunged down to his left to finger tip a Furnell drive around the post.
When he denied Liam Hendy from the subsequent corner, Hassocks fans were probably wondering whether this was going to end up being turn a points-winning performance from their former number one.
It might have been were it not for two Dan Turner interventions, one at either end. First he managed to get back and block on the line after Thompson and Ingram broke around Brown one-on-one.
Turner then wrapped up victory for the Robins with seven minutes remaining, putting a towering header from another Mundy free kick beyond Broadbent to make it a great eight for these record breaking Robins.
Hassocks: Jordan Brown; Bradley Tighe, Dan Turner, Liam Hendy, Joe Bull; Alfie Loversidge, Josh Mundy, Harvey Enticknap, Harry Furnell; Jamie Wilkes; Ruari Farrell.
Subs: Morgan Vale (Farrell 70), Harvey Blake (Tighe 75), Noah Hoffman, Kian Nandhra, Alex Fair (unused).
Starman: Josh Mundy.
