After seeing their last fixture away at Arundel postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Hassocks Under 23s return to a action with a difficult task at home to Horsham YMCA.
YM were the side who beat the Robins to the West Division title last season and they’ve continued where they left off, making a fine start to their championship defence to sit second in the table on goal difference from leaders Pagham.
By the end of the 2018-19 campaign, the difference between Hassocks and YM ended up being eight points but that doesn’t really tell the true story of how close the title race was between the two for much of the year.
They were pretty much neck-and-neck right up until mid-April. And while Hassocks managed to pick up only one point from their final five games, YM embarked on an imperious run with their first championship at Under 23 level being all but confirmed when they defeated the Robins 2-1 at Gorings Mead.
First half goals from Bradley Ross and Leon Eales did the damage. James Littlejohn did manage to pull one back for the Robins on the hour mark to set up a tense final 30 minutes but Hassocks were unable to force an equaliser.
The previous meeting had finished 1-1 at the Beacon, Christopher Maxted’s opener for YM being cancelled out by an equaliser from Connor Bradley early in the second half.
While YM have shown no let up, the Robins have had a transitional summer with many of last season’s squad too old to play Under 23 football; some have stepped up to the senior side at the Beacon while a large number moved to St Francis Rangers in search of first team football.
This difference was highlighted when the two sides met at Gorings Mead in the third week of the season. Hassocks’ new-look young side gave a brave account of themselves before going down 2-1 to a Jack Ryder brace. Liam Benson netted the Robins’ consolation.
Dave John’s side will need to produce a similar battling performance on this occasion and the following week, when they will again face YM at the Beacon although that one will be in the second round of the Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup.
Kick off is at 7.45pm and entrance is £3 for adults with everybody else going free. Both the Robins Bar and the T Bar will be open selling beer and hot food and drink throughout the evening.
