The Southern Combination League Premier Division’s two longest serving clubs meet at the Beacon as Hassocks host Arundel.
The Robins have been in the top flight since 1994 with Arundel’s unbroken run of Premier Division football stretching from 2000.
In that time, there have been 43 league meetings with nothing much to separate the two sides. Hassocks have won on 15 occasions, Arundel on 13 while there have been 15 draws.
What those statistics don’t tell you though is that it has traditionally been the home side who have triumphed although that trend has been under threat in recent seasons, Arundel winning 4-0 on their last visit to the Beacon in December 2017 and Hassocks returning from Mill Road with a 3-1 success back in September.
Phil Johnson scored the first two goals of his second spell with the Robins with Dan Stokes also on target as the visitors came from behind after Benjamin Gray had given the Mullets a 34th minute lead.
It was a well-deserved victory for Mark Dalgleish’s side but it also pointed to a long, hard season ahead for the Mullets and so it has proven as they arrive here embroiled in the relegation battle.
That’s nothing new to Arundel; they pulled off a fantastic great escape from relegation from a pretty perilous position last season and if they can rediscover some of that form then with any luck, they’ll get themselves out of the mire before the end of the campaign.
One quality that Arundel do possess that the other sides around them at the bottom of the table may lack is goals thanks to the presence in their ranks of that familiar thorn in Hassocks’ side, the aforementioned Gray.
Gray is one of the top scorers in the division despite the Mullet’s lowly position and as long as he keeps fit and firing for Simon Hull’s side, they’ll have a chance of escaping the drop.
Their recent run of fixtures hasn’t helped their league position, the Mullets having lost to both leaders Chichester City 6-1 and second placed Newhaven 6-0 since the turn of the year.
Sandwiched in between those results was a hugely encouraging 3-1 win over Lancing while earlier in the season, they claimed an impressive point away at high-flying Broadbridge Heath and also beat Peacehaven & Telscombe at home.
That points to the fact that the Mullets can be dangerous opponents on their day and Hassocks will know they’ll have to be at their best to stand a chance of picking up all three points and pushing themselves closer to safety.
Kick off at the Beacon is at 3pm and entrance is priced at £6 adults, £3 concessions and under 16s go free. The T Bar will be serving hot food and drink throughout and the Robins Bar can cater for all your beer needs as well.
