The 2020-21 Southern Combination League season edged another week closer with Hassocks’ preparations stepping up a notch against three opponents from three different levels of football.
On Tuesday 18th August, the Robins welcomed Division One side Arundel to the Beacon for the first home friendly of the campaign. The last time the two sides had met saw a 10 goal thriller back in October, Hassocks triumphing 6-4 in extra time in the first round of the Sussex Senior Cup at Mill Road.
It was another close affair this time around and in the end, the teams could not be separated as it finished 2-2. Phil Gault notched for the Robins from the penalty spot with Charlie Pitcher the other scorer.
Two days later and Lindfield from the Mid Sussex Premier Division made the short journey to Hassocks for the annual Dan Jacques Testimonial match. The Robins named a team made up largely of Under 23s and Under 18s and found themselves trailing 2-0 early in the second half to goals from Andy Brown and Jon Cunningham.
Hassocks’ young players did not give up however and they battled back to earn a deserved point. Alfie Loversidge and George Galbraith-Gibbons finished off two excellent moves as the Robins recorded their second 2-2 draw in the space of 48 hours.
A home match with Haywards Heath Town rounded off the week and for the first time, the Beacon turnstiles were allowed to be opened as the government confirmed supporters could return to watch non-league football.
Before kick off, there was an impeccably observed minutes silence for Grahame ‘Hans’ Lehkyj who sadly passed away recently. Hans was a regular face on the Mid Sussex football circuit and had links with both clubs stretching back to the 1980s when he was Hassocks’ club linesman in the Robins’ days in Sussex County League Division Three at Adastra Park.
In more recent times, he could be found taking photographs of Heath’s rise from the second tier of the Southern Combination into the Isthmian League. Hans’ collection of football photos extends into many thousands and his son Simon enjoyed spells playing in goal for both Heath and Hassocks.
The game itself saw Shaun Saunders’ side run out 2-1 winners. Gault continued his excellent friendly form with another goal from the penalty spot, taking his tally to four in pre-season so far.
Nico Cotton earned and converted a spot kick of his own for Heath early in the second half before Andrew Dalhouse popped up with a winner. Dalhouse would go onto achieve an impressive double as following the game at the Beacon, he zipped along the A27 to score in Heath’s second match of the afternoon as the Blues were beaten 3-1 by Worthing at Culver Road.
This week, Hassocks host AFC Varndeanians on Tuesday evening with Cuckfield Rangers coming to the Beacon on Thursday.
