Hassocks hit the road for the third game in succession with a Premier Division trip to East Preston this Tuesday night.
EP have endured a testing beginning to the 2020-21 season so far although they did show signs of improvement on Saturday, losing only 2-0 in the FA Vase against Fisher.
The Robins will know not to take their hosts stuttering start for granted; on Saturday, Hassocks became only the second team to lose a league game against Broadbridge Heath, a reminder that there are no easy games in the top flight of the the Southern Combination League this year.
East Preston this season
East Preston are winless at this stage in the Premier Division season with two points to their name from seven games. They picked those up in draws with Alfold and Little Common.
They joined Hassocks in the embarrassing Sussex Senior Cup exits club last Tuesday, going down 4-1 away at Division One Shoreham at the same time as the Robins were exiting with a limp 3-0 defeat at Midhurst & Easebourne.
EP’s only victory to date came when beating another set of Division One opponents, Oakwood, 2-0 in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup back in September.
This would not be the first time that EP have made a slow start to a campaign only for everything to turn out okay; in fact, they have made something of a habit of it in recent seasons.
The fact they have conceded 33 times including 25 from just seven league outings may however be a cause for concern among the faithful at the Lashmar.
Hassocks’ record against East Preston
There have been 44 meetings between the two sides, making EP one of the Robins’ most frequent opponents. Hassocks have won 15, there have been 10 draws and EP have tasted success on the remaining 19 occasions.
EP are normally good for a goal or two in the fixture as well, having scored 79 times against the Robins. The majority of those came during their domination of the league between 2012 and 2014 under Dom Di Paolo, a golden period at the Lashmar which culminated in East Preston’s first title at the end of the 2013-14 season.
Last time Hassocks met East Preston
Hassocks desperately needed a victory when they went to the Lashmar back in December to avoid being cast miles adrift in the relegation zone. It looked like being another difficult afternoon when Charlie Williamson gave the hosts the lead just before the hour mark, but the Robins bounced back well to win 2-1 thanks to first senior goals for Dan Turner and Blagomir Mastagarkov.
How to get to the Lashmar
Take the A259 through Worthing heading through Littlehampton. After going through Worthing and passing Roundstone Farm on your right, take the first exit at the roundabout onto Old Worthing Road. Cross the railway line, taking a left after it followed by the next right onto Roundstone Drive and the ground is at the end of the road on the left.
Important information for East Preston v Hassocks
EP ask all that visiting spectators, players and management please download the NHS Track and Trace app and check in using the QR codes which are displayed around the Lashmar.
The bar will be open and hot food will be on sale. Entrance is priced at £7 adults and £4 concessions and EP will have programmes on sale for £2.
