Robins look to round off frantic February with three points
Hassocks play their eighth and final game of a frantic February at the Beacon against Horsham YMCA in a fixture rearranged from last month following a frozen pitch.
The Robins have won four, drawn one, lost one and one seen one of their eight matches this month abandoned. A final victory would be a fine way to round off four weeks in which they have played every Tuesday and every Saturday.
It would also give Hassocks a very rare league double over YMCA. The clubs have been frequent opponents over the past 40 years but the Robins taking six points has hardly ever happened, thanks largely to their poor record at the Herbert Direct Stadium.
Having completed a first double against Saltdean United since the 1994-95 season at the weekend, the visit of YM presents another chance for Hassocks to end a lengthy hoodoo.
Horsham YMCA this season
Horsham YMCA began the season in impressive fashion, looking like they could secure their highest finish since Peter Buckland was in charge and had them regularly challenging towards the top of the table.
They have fallen away since those early days to currently sit 12th but remain dangerous opponents for any side in the division thanks to the mix of a mean defence and strikers who know where the goal is.
Former Dorking Wanderers goal machine Tom Tolfrey leads YM’s scoring charts whilst ex-Robin Ben Bacon needs no introduction to Hassocks fans after enjoying spells at the Beacon in the 2016-17 and 2019-20 seasons.
Hassocks v Horsham YMCA head-to-head
Hassocks and Horsham YMCA have faced off on 54 occasions since the Robins entered the Southern Combination League in 1982.
It is YM who lead the head-to-head with 28 victories to their name, the Robins have 14 and there have been 13 draws.
YM’s dominance of the fixture stems largely from their strong home record. Hassocks have been victorious just four times in the league at the Herbert Direct Stadium this century.
Last time Hassocks played Horsham YMCA
One of the Robins’ rare successes away against YM came on their September visit. The hosts had kept seven clean sheets in 10 games coming into the clash whilst Hassocks were 270 minutes without a goal.
In typical Robins style, the formbook ended up thrown out the window with James Westlake’s side coming away with a stunning 4-1 success.
Phil Johnson kept up his fine record of scoring against his former club with two of the goals, alongside efforts from Leon Turner and Jack Troak.
The YM consolations came from Archie Goddard and Bacon, who enjoys scoring against Hassocks almost as much as Johnson does against YM.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 7:45pm and admission is £7 adults, £3 concessions and free for under 16s. Both card and cash payments are accepted on the turnstiles.
The T Bar will be open serving hot food and drink and the Robins Bar has a wide selection of craft beer from local breweries, along with other alcohol.
Dogs are welcome and a printed matchday programme will be on sale for £1.
