Hassocks hoping to end Loxwood’s like of visiting the Beacon
Ever since Loxwood first won promotion to the Southern Combination League Premier Division, they have displayed a liking for trips to the Beacon.
Only once have Hassocks beaten the Magpies in Mid Sussex, a 6-2 home win in the 2019-20 season. James Littlejohn scored his first senior hat-trick, Ben Bacon nabbed two and Joe Bull was the other Robin on target.
Hassocks will come into this latest attempt to send Loxwood home with nothing in good form. The Robins have not conceded a goal in their past three matches, picking up seven points from a possible nine as the quest for a top 10 finish intensifies.
The Magpies though will prove tough opponents and not just because of their record at the Beacon. With so many former Loxwood players in James Westlake’s Hassocks squad, there will be added intrigue to this battle of the Southern Combination League Premier Division birds.
Loxwood this season
A managerial change in November has given Loxwood fresh impetus and they now look on course to avoid a bottom two finish and the threat of relegation which comes with it.
The Magpies appointed a very familiar name on the Sussex non league circuit to the hot seat with Dave Altendorff taking charge at the Nest.
During his playing career, Altendorff represented some of the biggest clubs in the county before moving into coaching at Lancing, where he helped the Lancers to top the Premier Division table before the season was stopped due to Covid-19.
11 of the 21 points Loxwood have collected this season have come since Altendorff arrived at Loxwood and the Magpies are also into the semi finals of the Peter Bentley League Cup via victories over AFC Varndeanians and Dorking Wanderers B.
Hassocks v Loxwood head-to-head
The sides first clashed in the 2014-15 season when Loxwood secured promotion to the Premier Division. Since then, there have been 15 meetings, all of which have come in the bread and butter of league football.
Hassocks have only ever beaten the Magpies on three occasions in that time. The aforementioned 6-2 win at the Beacon in September 2019 was preceded a year earlier by a 4-0 victory at the Nest. Win number three came in the current campaign when Hassocks won 2-0 at Loxwood in October.
Last time Hassocks played Loxwood
Phil Johnson scored on the stroke of half time with Pat Harding wrapping up the three points with an absolute stunner in the 89th minute.
It was Super Pat’s first goal since returning to the Robins from Burgess Hill Town. Harding’s strike just about beat the surreal moment when Hassocks goalkeeper Alex Harris getting booked for kicking the ball away after his own team won a free kick as the highlight of the afternoon.
Matchday information
Kick off is at 2:00pm 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. Unfortunately, continued problems with our printer and photocopier means it will be a digital-only programme. Team sheets will however be available on the turnstiles
