Mixed September became better as the month went on
September began for Hassocks with the thrill of a Friday night spent in Little Common. The 90 minutes which followed set the tone for the opening three games of the months, where the Robins created countless opportunities but were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.
If the Southern Combination League recorded xG stats, then Hassocks’ during this period would have been fascinating.
The Robins missed a hatful of chances on their way to a 2-0 defeat at Little Common Recreation Ground, where the hosts gave a performance the polar opposite by scoring with their only two shots on target.
Common took the lead via Lewis Hole with six minutes on the clock. The home goal led a mighty charmed life after that before Lewis Parsons wrapped up the three points with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Four days later and it was a carbon copy when AFC Varndeanians visited the Beacon in the Peter Bentley League Cup. Same scoreline, same head scratching from Hassocks players, management and fans as to how they had not won.
Early second half goals from Ali Rainford and Fin Big secured safe passage into the third round of the competition for Varndeanians.
The third scoreless match in succession came at Crawley Down Gatwick, the Anvils inflicting a 1-0 defeat on Hassocks in controversial circumstances.
Jack Troak thought he had broken the Robins’ duck on the hour mark when picking up the pieces after Phil Johnson had been brought down in the box by Down goalkeeper Alex Bellingham and firing into the empty net.
The flag was raised against Troak, which should have meant Hassocks were awarded a penalty as the clear foul on Johnson took place before the offside.
Incredibly, referee Ian Lane concluded Bellingham had done nothing illegal when hauling Johnson to the ground and Troak’s goal was chalked off. The Robins’ frustration deepened when Oli Leslie scrambled home the winner from a corner in the final 10 minutes.
The feeling at this point was that as long as Hassocks kept creating chances, it would all come together and somebody was going to take a hammering. That unfortunate honour went to Horsham YMCA.
Before the Robins rocked up at the Herbert Direct Stadium, YM were yet to concede a Premier Division goal at home. Their overall clean sheet record read seven shutouts from 10 matches in all competitions.
Archie Goddard gave YM a 13th minute lead before Hassocks ran rampant. Leon Turner and a Johnson brace had the Robins 3-1 ahead at half time.
Former Hassocks forward Ben Bacon pulled one back for YM on 50 minutes, after which the Robins decided attack was the best form of defence.
That positivity in wanting to re-establish a two-goal advantage was rewarded when Johnson was brought down in the box with 11 minutes left to play and Troak converted the resulting penalty to make it 4-2.
The feelgood factor from what was only a fourth league victory at YM this century did not last long. More cup disappointment followed at Division One outfit Chessington & Hook United in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.
Liam Benson had put Hassocks 1-0 ahead on 50 minutes. The Robins then missed a succession of good opportunities once again, enabling Ellis Dunn to equalise and 18-year-old Bailey Ellis to score an 89th minute winner to give the hosts a 2-1 victory.
The final game of September brought eventual Southern Combination champions Broadbridge Heath to the Beacon. What followed was one of the most entertaining matches of the campaign, a superb advert for non-league football.
Lewis Croal put Heath into the lead with 10 minutes on the clock, only for Benson to equalise three minutes later. Next came Hassocks’ turn to take the lead, Troak hitting a rocket from 30 yards which Bears goalkeeper Liam Matthews had no chance of keeping up.
The Robins led 2-1 up until the 71st minute when Tyler Symonds levelled. Croal added his second on 82 and judging by the reaction of some of the Heath substitutes, they thought that was it.
In keeping with a game which ebbed and flowed from one end to the other, Hassocks equalised for the second time almost straight from their kick off. Leon Turner broke and crossed for Benson to head home.
The Under 23s won two and lost two of their four September matches. The month began with a 2-1 reversal at Alfold, opponents who proved to be some sort of kryptonite to the Robins having eliminated them from the League Cup at the back end of the previous season.
Marshall Smith scored the consolation at the Elliott Scott Group Stadium before two Connor Bradley goals saw Hassocks bounce back in style, defeating the previous campaign’s undefeated North Division champions Broadbridge Heath 2-0 at the Beacon.
A week later and a George Mercer brace along with goals from Sam Geard and Charlie Tuck secured a 4-1 victory at Chessington & Hook.
The second defeat of September came when Horley Town won 3-0 on their visit to Mid Sussex, which proved to be the last North Division loss Hassocks would suffer.
A new-look Under 18s side got their campaign up and running with a 3-1 victory over Steyning Town. Alex Brewer set his stall out early for what would be a fine individual season by scoring twice with the other goal from Jack Duckett.
A pair of 2-1 defeats followed at home to Worthing United and away against St Francis Rangers. Brewer was again on target in the first of those matches and Ryan Goss netted in the Mid Sussex Derby at Colwell Road.
The Ladies got their season under new manager Sean Perkins off to a flying start, scoring 15 times in two outings.
Hassocks opened their Sussex County Women’s League Premier Division campaign with a 6-1 thrashing of Saltdean United, featuring a Katherine Chappell hat-trick. Maddie Cannon, Jess Craig and Jodie Johanson completed the rout.
An even bigger victory followed at Pevensey & Westam in the League Cup. Chappell hit five this time, Craig three and Kirstin Mair one as Hassocks racked up a 9-1 success.
