January’s fixtures for Hassocks Under 23s, Under 18s and Ladies have been released with a glut of cup games to kick off the new year.
Dave John’s Under 23 side begin with a Sussex Under 23 Challenge Cup Quarter Final away at Combined Counties side Loxwood on Wednesday 8th January with a 7.45pm kick off.
The original November tie was understandably postponed following the tragic of death of Loxwood player Suel Delgado a few days beforehand.
Plaistow Road was then waterlogged for the rearranged fixture which had been due to take place a week before Christmas.
It will be the first meeting at Under 23 level between the sides since the 2015-16 season, the Magpies completing a Southern Combination West Division double by winning 3-1 at the Beacon and 3-2 at Plaistow Road on their way to winning the league title.
Hassocks have never reached this stage of the competition before with the winners progressing to face Horsham in the semi finals.
On Thursday 16th January, the Robins face more knockout action as they travel to Old Barn Way to take on Southwick in the League Cup at 7.45pm. The Robins reached the last four of the competition last season before crashing out to East Preston.
Two league games then round off the month at home to Arundel on Thursday 23rd and away at Selsey on Wednesday 29th. Both of those are scheduled to start at 7.45pm.
The Under 18s have a mouth watering tie to start the new decade with as Burgess Hill Town visit the Beacon in a Mid Sussex Derby this coming Sunday at 11am.
Brad Sweetman then takes his side to Broadbridge Heath’s new High Wood Hill Sports Ground on Sunday 12th with a blank weekend on the 19th following Southwick’s withdrawal from the Under 18 Central Division. The Young Robins then round off the month with a trip to Shoreham on Sunday 26th.
2020 couldn’t begin with a sterner test for the Ladies as they travel to unbeaten South East Counties Women’s League leaders Worthing on Sunday afternoon.
Kick off is at 2pm and we can at least say with near certainty that it is a game that will go ahead thanks to the 4G pitch at Woodside Road.
A week later and the Ladies are in League Cup Quarter Final action away at Phoenix Sports. The Robins have a good record in the competition having lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the semi finals last year, so Martin Lee’s side will be hoping to write some more history at Mayplace Road with a slightly earlier kick off time of 1.30pm.
On Sunday 19th, Hassocks make the short journey to the Oval to take on Eastbourne United and they round their January off with a home game against Worthing on Sunday 26th, meaning that there will be two tough games against the only side in the league to still have a 100% record.
