Pre-season friendly number two takes Hassocks to Mill Road
Arundel and Hassocks renew their acquaintance for the first time since 2019 when James Westlake takes his Robins to Mill Road for their second pre-season friendly of the summer.
With 49 previous competitive meetings between the sides, the Mullets are one of the clubs whom Hassocks have faced the most during their 40 years in the Southern Combination League.
Before Arundel were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of the 2018-19 season, they and the Robins had been the top flight’s two longest-serving clubs. Throw in a fair number of cup meetings and Hassocks and the Mullets used to be regular foes.
The most recent competitive clash between the sides came in the first round of the 2019-20 Sussex Senior Cup. Extra time was needed in a scarcely believable 10-goal thriller at Mill Road.
Arundel led four times but found themselves on the end of a 6-4 defeat. Eli Amoo gave the hosts a 16th minute lead, cancelled out by Jack Troak five minutes later.
Jack Collins made it 2-1 to the Mullets on 31, only for Joe Bull to level five minutes after. Arundel’s third lead was even shorter lived, Gwill Flin-Roberts striking on 41 and James Littlejohn replying on 43.
There were no goals in the second half, leading to the additional 30 minutes in which four more were plundered. Callum Chalmers made it 4-3 to Arundel with 100 minutes played with Ben Bacon levelling 60 seconds later.
Hassocks took the lead for the first time via Dan Stokes on 116 minutes to move 5-4 ahead and Troak secured safe passage with his second and the Robins’ sixth in the final seconds.
That 2019-20 season was Arundel’s first in Division One, where they have spent the past three campaigns. The first two were interrupted by Covid-19. Last season saw the Mullets finish in 17th spot out of 18, four points above relegated Storrington.
A new manager is subsequently in place at Mill Road this season, Craig Stuart having been appointed to the dugout. Like Hassocks, the Mullets have been on a summer recruitment drive and their new-look squad kicked off on Saturday with a 3-1 defeat against Newhaven.
How to get to Mill Road
Follow the A27 through Lancing and Worthing until you come to Arundel. At the roundabout at the bottom of the city, take the second exit and after crossing the river on Queen Street, Mill Road is the first on your right. The ground is approximately 100m up the road on the right.
Admission is £3 for adults and free for Under 16s. Please note that it is cash only on the turnstiles.
