Beebee brace from the bench earns Hassocks point from top two clash with Bears
The top two in the Southern Combination League Under 23 North Division met at the Beacon in a mouth watering first fixture of 2022.
It lived up to its hype too as nothing could separate leaders Broadbridge Heath and second placed Hassocks, the sides drawing 2-2 on a chilly Mid Sussex evening.
The Robins knew that they could not afford to lose if they wanted to keep their slim title hopes alive. At half time, those dreams of a first ever Under 23 league championship looked over.
Heath led 2-0 and were seemingly cruising towards three points which would take them four clear at the top with Hassocks having only two league matches left to play.
The Robins though battled back and a brace from the bench from Lewis Beebee proved enough to ensure the spoils were shared.
Heath had dropped only four points all season, winning nine and drawing two of their 11 matches. Included in that impressive record was a 2-0 victory the last time these sides met at High Wood Hill Sports Ground back in October, a result which ended the Robins’ own unbeaten start to the campaign.
Hassocks knew they would be in for a tough encounter, especially with resources stretched due to the first team having gone a full 120 minutes when eliminating Crawley Down Gatwick from the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup on Tuesday night.
There were seven changes from the side who had last taken to the field when securing local bragging rights by beating St Francis Rangers 3-1 on December 16th.
Harvey Parker returned in goal for Ryan West. Connor Bradley, Luke Marshall and Joe Bull all stepped up their returns from injury.
Marshall Smith started having played in extra time against Down 48 hours earlier. There was a first Under 23s start for Jack Smith and the evergreen Phil Gault made a rare appearance.
With Lord Gault set to be in the senior squad for Saturday’s trip to Little Common, he could complete an impressive treble of playing Under 23s, first team and veterans in the space of 72 hours should he also be selected for the vets game away at East Court on Sunday afternoon.
Missing out were Kobe Dersley, Sean McSwiney, Arthur Rawlingson, Josh Short and Josh Hawkes whilst Archie Russell dropped down to the bench.
Also named amongst the substitutes was Charlie Broad, a new capture who like almost every other player signed over the past four months has links to Loxwood.
An exciting and powerful forward, he made a big contribution to the result, although it was somewhat understandably overshadowed by the mercurial Beebee’s heroics.
Heath needed only eight minutes to show why they are the long-term leaders of the league, Craig Goodsir putting the Bears 1-0 ahead early on.
The visitors’ second goal could not have come at a worse time for Hassocks, Zack Lamont scoring with virtually the last kick of the first half as a second minute of stoppage time was completed.
Hassocks to their credit rallied. Beebee pulled one back on 68 minutes with his first of the evening and on 75, he levelled the tie with his second.
The momentum had swung dramatically and the Robins were now in the ascendancy. Unfortunately, they were unable to find a winner but a draw was ultimately the correct result.
One special mention to young George Mercer, involved in one of the more bizarre injuries seen at the Beacon in recent times.
He injured his shoulder late on when attempting to jump the pitch side rail to retrieve a ball, resulting in a Thursday night trip to A&E wearing full Hassocks kick.
Everyone at the Beacon of course wishes George a speedy recovery.
Hassocks: Harvey Parker, George Mercer, Luke Marshall, Jack Smith, Harvey Ransome, Jude Wallis, Connor Bradley, Phil Gault, Ben Hicks, Marshall Smith, Joe Bull.
Subs: Lewis Beebee, Jamie Douglass, Charlie Broad, Archie Russell (used).
