It’s a week off from Southern Combination League Under 23 West Division action for Hassocks as attention switches to the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup.
The Robins have been handed a difficult task in the first round of the competition as they make the journey to take on Three Bridges at Jubilee Field.
Bridges play in the 10 team Bluefin Development League South Division, the Isthmian League for Under 23 clubs. That equates to a higher level of football to which the Robins ply their trade in, leaving Dave John’s side as underdogs ahead of their trip north.
Not that Bridges are having the best season so far. They’ve only played two league games and lost them both, going down 3-1 to leaders Hastings United and 4-3 in a tight local derby with Horsham.
Hastings were the opponents who knocked Hassocks out of this competition last year, winning 4-2 at the Beacon in the second round of the competition.
This won’t be the first time the Robins and Bridges have crossed swords though. Bridges had a brief one-season stay in the Southern Combination League in the 2017-18 season with Hassocks claiming four points from the two league meetings.
The first clash saw the Robins go to Jubilee Field in the second week of the season and underline their title credentials with a win 2-1 thanks to goals from the midfield duo of Kieran Rowe and Matt Berridge.
Three months later and the sides played out a 1-1 stalemate at the Beacon with Max Willcox scoring. The Robins ended that season in second place, six points behind champions Pagham. Bridges meanwhile finished seventh, a further 15 points behind Hassocks.
This won’t be the first meeting below senior level in a Sussex FA County Cup either. Back in the 2010-11 campaign, there was an entertaining clash in the fourth round of the Sussex Intermediate Cup which Bridges eventually triumphed 4-3 in. Hassocks’ scorers that day were Jamie Hillwood while Neil Kane helped himself to a brace.
Kick off at Jubilee Field on Thursday is at 7.45pm. The winners will travel to reigning West Division champions Horsham YMCA in the second round.
