After last week’s 3-2 West Division win over Selsey, Hassocks Under 23s have the opportunity to secure back-to-back wins for the first time in the current campaign as they head to the Lashmar to take on East Preston.
That won’t be an easy task against an EP side who inflicted two defeats in three games on the Robins last season. The second of those didn’t real matter from a Hassocks point of view, coming as it did in the final game of the season when the Robins were already guaranteed to finish as runners up to Horsham YMCA.
EP’s 1-0 win that night lifted them into third spot in the table, completing a fine year in which they also reached the final of the Southern Combination Under 23 League Cup.
It was in the last four of that competition that their second win over Hassocks arrived, a 3-1 success at Shoreham’s Middle Road at the start of April.
EP were much the better side that evening as a second half brace from Cian Griffin-Tilley sent them through. Jack Collins had earlier given EP a half time lead with James Littlejohn netting the Hassocks consolation with 20 minutes left to play.
The Robins’ last trip to the Lashmar was a much happier affair as Hassocks signed off for 2018 with a 3-1 win. Dan Huet put EP ahead early when he opened the scoring in the seventh minute but Max Willcox levelled things up on the stroke of half time.
From there, Hassocks dominated the second half and Matt Berridge scored twice to keep the Robins hanging onto the coattails of YM.
Both sides have enjoyed a mixed start to the new campaign. Hassocks have won two and lost two of their four games so far as Dave John’w new, young looking side adapt to the difference between Under 18 and Under 23 football.
EP meanwhile have won two, drawn one and lost one of their fixtures. That one defeat came in their last outing as they went down 3-2 at the Lashmar to YM last Thursday night.
Prior to that, they picked up a hugely impressive 3-1 win which ended early leaders Oakwood’s 100% start to the season. Their other victory came at Mill Road, were Arundel were vanquished 2-1 on the opening day, after which they were held 1-1 at home by Lancing.
Kick off at the Lashmar is at the slightly earlier time of 7.30pm for anyone who is making the journey to support the Robins.
