HASSOCKS HAMMER CHAMPIONS IN MID SUSSEX DERBY
After plundering 21 goals in their previous two games, Hassocks Under 18s knew that reigning Haywards Heath Town would offer a much stiffer test of the Robins’ own title credentials.
It was a test that Brad Sweetman’s side passed with flying colours however, winning 4-1 against the reigning Southern Combination League Central Division champions to move up into third spot in the early season table.
Hassocks’ free-scoring form meant that they came into this in confident mood. Lewes Juniors had been dispatched 8-1 in the first round of the Sussex Bluefin Dennis Probee Youth Cup three weeks ago before last weekend’s 13-0 win over Southwick.
That was the Robins’ biggest victory in the league since 2007 – not even the treble winning side of two years ago managed a success so large as they swept all before them to lift the Central Division title, the Overall League title and the League Cup.
In amongst all that silverware lifting came an astonishing 29 game, 385 day winning streak – a run that was ended just over a year ago at Hanbury Park when Heath defeated Hassocks 5-3, the first part of a league double that the Blues managed over their Mid Sussex rivals with the return game finishing 4-2 to the visitors at the Beacon.
Both sides have undergone significant changes over the summer, but the importance and notoriety of the fixture wasn’t lost on anyone involved and that made this a sweet win for the hosts.
Sweetman made just one change from the previous week’s baker’s dozen at Old Barn Way. Harry Meredith returned from a one-match ban to take the place of Oliver Charlesworth.
That meant that striker Yahya Azizi, one of last season’s standout performers, had to settle for a spot on the bench on his return to action having been unavailable for the past few weeks.
The goal scoring form of newcomers Harrison Lees and Lewis Beebee has more than made up for Azizi’s absence and they were both on target again.
For Lees, it was a brace which takes his tally for the season to nine. It also means that he has scored in all five of Hassocks’ fixtures so far.
Beebee also has nine for the season, a single here ensuring that Lees and himself remain level at the top of both the Hassocks and the league’s goalscoring charts.
Remarkably, Beebee’s entire season’s haul so far has come in just the past three games; he notched a hat-trick in the County Cup win over Lewes and helped himself to five against hapless Southwick.
It was Azizi who added Hassocks’ fourth when he was introduced from the bench, belatedly opening his account for the season and underlying just what a dangerous front line Sweetman has at his disposal.
Heath’s consolation was a late one, arriving in the 89th minute from substitute Connor Silvey, the last action of a game which was at times a little heated.
As a result of that, four players went into the book – Charlie Jones for Hassocks being joined by Heath’s Guy Batt, Kobe Dersley and Connor Silvey in what was a busy game for referee Peter Dingle compared to normal Under 18s fare.
Hassocks: Toby Fisher, Luke Marshall, Harry Meredith, Charlie Jones, Alex Crawford, Freddie Gamblin, Jack Gardner, Harrison Lees, Alfie Loversidge, Finlay McDermott, Lewis Beebee.
Subs: Yahya Azizi, Lewis Reep, Guy Underwood (used).
