Robins named November Premier Division Team of the Month

Southern Combination League hand Hassocks the award after five wins from

The Southern Combination League have named Hassocks as Premier Division Team of the Month for November after the Robins won all five of their matches.

17 goals were scored and only three conceded as the Robins ended the month eight points clear of Haywards Heath Town at the top of the table having played a game more.

Hassocks began November in style with a 5-0 hammering of Newhaven. The Robins led 4-0 going into half time in front of a surprised and delighted Hassocks Hotel Beacon Ground thanks to four different scorers.

Tall striker Jamie Wilkes got the party started after 12 minutes. Harry Furnell doubled the lead on 27, Liam Hendy added another 180 seconds later and Morgan Vale provided the fourth in injury time.

To the relief of the Dockers, the second half was a much more serene affair with the fifth not arriving until the 91st minute courtesy of a crashing Will Berry volley.

The Robins were eliminated from the FA Vase on penalties the following Saturday at Tunbridge Wells but bounced back from that setback in impressive style, winning 3-0 at Loxwood three days later. Big Alex Fair, Ruari Farrell and Morgan Vale were on the scoresheet.

An 89th minute winner from Dan Turner secured a dramatic three points at home to Midhurst & Easebourne next.

Hassocks trailed 1-0 going into half time to a Lewis Rustell effort. Vale levelled on 50, setting the stage for Turner to smash home a winner and spark wild celebrations from the biggest league crowd of the season so far.

The Robins even had to survive playing out the game with only 10 men and Jack Troak in goal after Jordan Brown was sin binned.

Two goals from Farrell saw Hassocks overcome a tricky trip to freezing Saltdean United the next Tuesday night with wind and rain replacing cold weather at Pagham on the Saturday.

Storm Bert proved no much for Fair, who scored twice and forced the Lions into putting through their own net in a comfortable 3-0 win at Nyetimber Lane.

It looked like Hassocks were going to lose their perfect November record in the final game of the month as visitors Shoreham led 1-0 entering stoppage time.

Goals though from Farrell and Troak in the 91st and 93rd minutes respectively completed a quite remarkable turnaround.

It is the second Team of the Month Award the Robins have won in 2024. They also taken the accolade back in January.

Nobody can remember when Hassocks were Team of the Month prior to that, highlighting what a superb 12 months James Westlake and his players have delivered.

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