Robins boss spoke to Steve Bone from the Mid Sussex Times with Hassocks knowing victory over Crowborough will secure the Southern Combination title
Hassocks boss James Westlake hailed his players for another professional performance as they won at Shoreham to set up a potential title-winning weekend.
The Robins will win the Southern Combination Premier Division crown – and the automatic promotion to the Isthmian League which comes with it – if they win at home closest rivals Crowborough Athletic on Saturday.
But Westlake says nothing will change in terms of approach as he and his players look to secure Hassocks their first ever trophy in senior football.
Last weekend’s trip to Shoreham could have been tricky. The Musselmen have undergone a change of manager, added a few new players and need points to move themselves away from the relegation zone.
Goals from Jack Troak, Josh Mundy, Ruari Farrell and Alex Fair secured a 4-0 win to put the Robins on the brink of the big prize.
Westlake said: “The change of management and players they brought in certainly added an extra pressure to the game. But not for the first time this season, the players dealt with the occasion superbly.”
“We scored a fantastic goal right at the start of the game on what was a horrific playing surface. And whilst it was nip and tick for the rest of the half, we came out in the second half and killed the game with three more excellent goals.”
What does Westlake think now Hassocks’ are so close to being crowned champions?
“As it has been all season, we are just taking it game-by-game and seeing where that takes us,” Westlake said.
“This time of the season is all about results. Our performances haven’t quite been what we would like them to be in recent weeks. But we have won games of football and that is the most important thing.”
Saturday should see another large crowd at the Hassocks Hotel Beacon and the manager says everyone at the club is relishing the occasion but are taking nothing for granted.
“It’s a game we are really looking forward to,” said Westlake. “Crowborough are a very good side and are on a brilliant run but we know exactly what we need to do.”
“We will be approaching the game in exactly the same way we have gone into the other 32 league games and hope that brings us the win we need to secure the title.”
Hassocks and Crows will then meet again in the Peter Bentley Cup final in May after the Robins defeated local rivals Haywards Heath Town 2-1 in midweek.
