Hassocks travel to Loxwood this Saturday looking to secure their first ever win against the Magpies.
There have been eight previous meetings between the two since Loxwood were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern Combination League for the 2014-15 season.
In those, the Magpies have won six and there have been two draws, both of those coming in Loxwood’s first campaign in the top flight and both ending 1-1.
George Brown scored his first Hassocks goal in the September meeting at the Beacon with Phil Johnson netting in the Robins first ever trip to Plaistow Road which came in February.
Hassocks will be hoping that Johnson can repeat the trick this weekend to end that barren run of form which stands at six defeats in six games against Loxwood, including a double for the Magpies of a 3-0 win at the Beacon and a 2-1 victory in the last meeting between the sides back in March.
The Robins will go into the game in good spirits. They put in an excellent second half performance on Tuesday night to come from 2-0 down and eliminate Bexhill United from the Peter Bentley League Cup via a 3-2 win.
Johnson netted in that for his fifth goal of the season and there were also goals for Dan Jacques and James Littlejohn.
Littlejohn is enjoying something of a hot streak at the minute. He scored both of the under 23s goals in their 2-1 win at Southwick on Thursday night to go with a four goal the previous week as Nigel Pearce’s side defeat Midhurst & Easebourne 9-0.
The victory over Bexhill made it three wins in five games for the Robins and they were the better team for large parts of their 2-0 FA Vase defeat to K Sports as well.
That form is in stark contrast to Loxwood, who come into the game bottom of the table. They’ve picked up just one league point so far in a 1-1 draw away at AFC Uckfield Town courtesy of Jordan Warren’s 92nd minute equaliser.
The Magpies have fared slightly better in the FA Cup, reaching the Preliminary Qualifying Round where they faced Hassocks’ conquerors, Erith Town.
Loxwood put on a better showing against the Dockers than the Robins managed, drawing 1-1 to force a replay in which they were beaten 4-1 away from home on Monday night.
The very familiar name of Michael Death got the Loxwood consolation. Death moved to Plaistow Road towards the end of pre-season after spending nearly three years at the Beacon.
He contributed 38 goals in 112 games during his time at Hassocks and became a popular figure around the club. So far, he has two goals to his name for Loxwood.
Another familiar name among the Magpies squad is Lewis Westlake who has just signed for the club after a brief spell with Lancing following his summer departure from the Beacon and former Hassocks favourite Eddie French remains with the club in a player-coach role.
Kick off at Plaistow Road is at 3pm and admission is £6 adults, £5 for over 65s and students and under 18s can enter for free.
