Hassocks hit Rangers for six to take Mid Sussex bragging rights
Mid Sussex is red. Hassocks Under 23s delivered a devastating performance to hammer local rivals St Francis Rangers 6-0 at the Beacon in their second Southern Combination League North Division match of the season.
In the last Mid Sussex Derby held back in January, Rangers had run out 2-1 winners in what was meant to be their home game.
It was switched to the Beacon because of floodlight problems at Colwell Road. Not that the change mattered, the result showing that St Francis made themselves very much at home.
As if losing to your local rivals were not enough, the defeat ended the Robins’ slim hopes of winning the North Division title.
Rangers made the short trip back to the Hospital with bragging rights and the knowledge that they had put the final nail in Hassocks’ championship dreams coffin.
All of that helped make this hammering eight months down the line even more enjoyable. A small measure of revenge for Hassocks to go with their three points.
It was also a great way for new head coach Neil Parker to mark his first home game in charge. Parker has now overseen two victories from two matches with seven goals scored and none conceded. Not a bad start to life in the Under 23s dugout.
Wholesale changes from one week to the next have been the norm for Hassocks in recent seasons, with a lot of players moving between first and Under 23 teams on a weekly basis. Or if you are Phil Gault, first and veterans.
A more settled senior squad under James Westlake in 2021-22 has filtered down to greater consistency in selection for Parker.
Hassocks made just three changes from the side who won 1-0 away at Roffey in the season opener a week earlier.
George Mercer was promoted from the bench. First team players Will Broomfield and Sam Smith were given the opportunity to get vital minutes under their belts after missing out on most of the senior action so far.
Dropping out were Jay Hudson, Danny Reid and Jamie Wilkes. Both Reid and Wilkes had been used substitutes in the FA Cup exit at the hands of Uxbridge on Saturday afternoon.
Smith in particular enjoyed his run out with the Under 23s. The striker had a fruitful evening, scoring twice against a Rangers defence who had no answer to his excellent play as a target man.
Arthur Rawlingson was on target against his former club and he was joined on the scoresheet by fellow defender Dan Turner, showing what an asset he will be at both ends of the pitch for Parker before he heads to New Zealand to play cricket this winter.
The other two Hassocks goals came from players scoring for the Robins for the first time. New signing from Balcombe Lewis Fairley was on target on his home debut.
Under 18s player Sam Fernley marked his first appearance for the Under 23s with a goal from the bench to complete the rout.
Hassocks: Callum Thompson, Arthur Rawlingson, Dan Turner, Will Broomfield, Kobe Dersley, Sam Geard, Sam Rogers, George Mercer, Lewis Fairley, Jude Wallis, Sam Smith.
Subs: Ben Hicks, Sam Fernley, Charlie Broad, Jack Smith, Wes Tighe (used).
