Robins see off Shoreham to secure third spot in Central Division standings
Hassocks secured the three points they needed from the final match of the 2022-23 season to finish third in the Southern Combination Under 18 Central Division, beating Shoreham 4-2 at the Beacon.
After 17 league matches, it all came down to the last. The Robins were a point ahead of Shoreham in the standings but with the Musselmen having a game in hand.
Victory for Hassocks would guarantee third. Defeat and Shoreham would finish best of the rest after champions St Francis Rangers and runners up Burgess Hill Town.
A draw would have meant Shoreham could overtake the Robins by winning their final game of the season against Worthing United on Tuesday night. A simple enough set of possible outcomes which left everyone knowing where they stood.
And Hassocks got the job done to cap off a memorable campaign with a highest league finish since the treble winning side of 2017-18 lifted the title, boding well for next season.
This is a very young Robins team made up of 17, 16 and 15-year-olds. Most will be eligible for youth football again in 2023-24.
And as always tends to be the case with young players, consistency has been an issue at times. But in reaching the semi finals of both the Dennis Probee Youth Cup and the Southern Combination League Cup, Hassocks have shown they can compete with anyone in the county on their day.
There was nothing to separate the Robins and Shoreham in their previous meeting back in October, a 1-1 draw at Middle Road. Hassocks therefore knew they were going to be in for a testing Friday night under the Beacon lights.
The Robins made only one change from the team who had won 3-0 at Saltdean United in their previous outing eight days ago.
Top scorer Alex Brewer returned having been rested for the trip to Hill Park. He took the place of Ben Foster, who dropped down to the bench.
Brewer scored his first senior goal on Saturday when Eastbourne Town were beaten 4-1 at the Beacon.
If Brewer could get on the scoresheet against Shoreham, then there remained the possibility he could overhaul Saltdean striker Jimmy Tasker in the race for the Central Division golden boot.
Unfortunately for Brewer, he was unable to find the back of the net. Instead, it was Jack Duckett who notched a brace which helped carry Hassocks to victory.
Also on target were Will Varley and Oliver Parker-Williams, rounding off a fine end to the campaign which saw him make his first team debut.
For Shoreham, Harry Robins and Liam Smart notched the consolations whilst the Musselmen ended the night with only 10 men on the pitch after Luca Hanlon was sent off for two bookable offences.
Hassocks: Jack Thomas, George Gladding, Ed Tobias, Alex Wintle, Sam Fernley, Sam Dean, Jack Duckett, Oliver Goswamy, Alex Brewer, Oliver Parker-Williams, Will Varley.
Subs: Ben Foster, Ryan Goss, Harry Goatcher (used).
