After a weekend off, both Hassocks Under 18s and Ladies return to action this Sunday with the Young Robins in particular facing a huge game.
Brad Sweetman’s side will put their 100% record on the line against Haywards Heath Town, the only other side yet to drop a point in the Southern Combination Under 18 Central Division so far this season.
Hassocks have five wins from five with a positive goal difference of 19 while Heath have four from four and a a plus 16 goal difference, setting up a mouth watering local derby at Hanbury Park.
Heath’s flying start to the campaign has been rich reward for some impressive recruitment over the summer. They finished last season in third place but look well equipped to go better this time around if their start to the campaign is anything to go by.
Hassocks had the better of both fixtures between the two last season. The first meeting didn’t arrive until April and it was a memorable one for the Robins as their 4-1 win at the Beacon secured the league title.
The goals that evening came from Roberto Gallotta, George Galbraith-Gibbons and a Jake Lindsey brace while there was an even more impressive win at Hanbury two-and-a-half weeks later as Hassocks ran out 7-1 winners with doubles from Gallotta and Galbraith-Gibbons and further goals from Lindsey and Joe Tatford.
The score line will no doubt be much closer this time and for anybody wishing to watch what should be a fantastic encounter, kick off at Hanbury Park is at 11am.
Hassocks Ladies meanwhile begin their Sussex Women’s Challenge Trophy campaign with a home game against South East Counties Womens League Divison One West rivals Bexhill United Reserves.
The Pirates have lost six games out of six so far this season, scoring six times and conceding 39 along the way. Hassocks are at the opposite end of the table with five wins from five.
The Robins faced Bexhill’s first string on three occasions last season when they were in the Premier Division, losing 3-0 in the league at the Polegrove in April.
Before that, Hassocks had defeated the Pirates 4-1 at the Beacon in their second game of the season courtesy of two goals from Tallie Brighton and one apiece from Katherine Chappell and Kelly Rushworth.
There was also a 2-1 Hassocks win in the semi finals of the League Cup with Chappell and Rushworth again on target. Hassocks went onto win the competition by defeating Worthing in the final and they’l be hoping that another win over Bexhill can provide a springboard for further silverware on this occasion. The winners will face either Horsham Sparrows or AFC Littlehampton in the quarter finals.
Kick off is at 1.30pm at the Beacon and entrance is free.
