Robins host Steyning Town in third round on Tuesday 21st March
After five months of not knowing whether the Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup would continue this season or not, Hassocks have finally had the date for their third round clash with Steyning Town confirmed.
The Barrowmen will visit the Beacon on Tuesday 21st March, kick off at 7:45pm with a place in the quarter finals at stake.
It is so long since the Robins played their second round clash that you may well be struggling to remember how Hassocks made it this far in the competition.
Phil Johnson in contrast is unlikely to forget as he scored four times in the first half to set the Robins on their way to a 5-0 victory away at Division One strugglers Forest Row.
Danny Reid completed the rout with his one and only Hassocks goal before moving to Saltdean United.
That evening wrote a small piece of Robins history as Hassocks fans around the world were able to stream the game live on YouTube via Your Instant Replay.
Steyning had to pass a much tougher examination in the second round away at home to Eastbourne Town.
Nothing could separate the sides after 90 minutes at the Birchwood Ground with the tie finishing 1-1. That meant penalties, where the Barrowmen scored four of their spot kicks compared to Town’s two.
Like Hassocks, Steyning are enjoying an excellent season in the Premier Division much improved on their 2021-22 campaign. The Robins finished 16th in the table with Steyning one place lower in the 17th.
This year, the Barrowmen have been a near-constant presence in the top six as they eye a highest finish since they were the Southern Combination League’s dominant team in the 1980s.
Hassocks and Steyning have faced off once already this season and if their RUR Cup meeting is half as entertaining, then it should be a thriller.
That previous meeting took place on Boxing Day and saw the Beacon pull in its biggest attendance for a league game in more than 20 years.
The bumper crowd were treated to the Robins going into half time 2-0 ahead through goals from Liam Benson and Harvey Blake.
Steyning though rallied after the break, Callum Chalmers and Jack Langford levelling the tie at 2-2 entering the final 10 minutes when Hassocks lost goalkeeper Joe Southam to injury.
Defender Will Broomfield took over between the sticks and it looked like the Robins were going to cling on for a point until Jack Barnes found a winner for Steyning in the fourth minute of injury time.
Admission prices for this next clash remain £7 adults, £3 concessions with free entry for under 16s.
