Midhurst & Easebourne bring their formidable away record to the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground
Since Midhurst & Easebourne returned to the Southern Combination Premier Division after a 30-year absence in 2022, games involving Hasssocks and the Stags have been goalfests.
19 goals have been scored in four matches, resulting in two wins apiece. If that record continues at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground on Saturday, an entertaining afternoon is in store.
The Robins returned to winning ways in midweek, easing to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Loxwood. Midhurst will provide a much sterner test, having lost only once on their travels so far.
Midhurst & Easebourne this season
2023-24 saw Midhurst secure the best league position in their history, finishing 10th in the Premier Division.
It continued the season-on-season progress manager Andy Ewen has overseen since taking over at the Rotherfield in 2018 with the Stags in the Division One relegation zone.
Further improvement in the current campaign could well be enough to take Midhurst into the playoff places.
They sit ninth in the very congested table, just four points off Petersfield Town in third and five clear of Horsham YMCA in 12th.
Hassocks v Midhurst head-to-head
Meetings have been few and far between. There have been 12 previous games, seven of which Hassocks have won and five which Midhurst have been triumphant in.
As already mentioned, goals tend to be guaranteed. The Robins have a 6-0 victory at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground and a 6-1 success at the Rotherfield to their name.
2022-23 saw a crazy seven-goal thriller in BN6 edged 4-3 by the Stags with all the scoring done in the first half.
The Robins then lost 5-0 at the Rotherfield before taking revenge with a double last season, winning 3-1 at home and 3-0 away.
Last time Hassocks played Midhurst & Easebourne
The long midweek trip to the Rotherfield back in March was made worthwhile as Hassocks became only the second visiting team to leave Midhurst with three points all season.
Goals from Super Pat Harding and tall striker Jamie Wilkes put the Robins 2-0 ahead going into half time.
Sean Stephenson added the third just past the hour mark, rounding off a man-of-the-match performance from the right wing.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 3pm and admission is £8 adults, £4 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles and in the Clubhouse.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink, and for the first time Jodie’s Food Wagon will also be operational at the Railway End of the ground.
The Dave John Lounge has a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries along with other alcohol. Dogs are welcome and a printed programme will be on sale for £1.
If using Google Maps to walk from Hassocks Station or the village, please do not take the footpath into Butcher’s Wood. There is no crossing point over the railway line or way of entering the Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground.
Instead, follow Keymer Road towards Hurstpierpoint, turn left at Stonepound crossroads and walk down London Road towards the ground.
For anyone wanting to watch England v South Africa in the rugby afterwards, the Hassocks Hotel will be showing the game live.
