Game number two in the Southern Combination League Premier Division Supplementary Shield sees Hassocks go to Horley Town who are amongst the favourites to win the end-of-season competition.
The Robins know only too well about the qualities which Anthony Jupp’s side possess from their meeting earlier in the season. Town came to the Beacon and won 8-0 in October, strengthening their position at the top of the table on a day where nothing went right for Hassocks.
A trip to the New Defence represents an opportunity for the Robins to give a better account of themselves. There were plenty of positives for Hassocks to take from the weekend’s 2-2 draw at Crawley Down Gatwick, played at the same time as Horley were seeing off Lingfield 2-1 at Godstone Road to take early control of Group C.
Unfortunately, no supporters are currently allowed to attend in line with current government and FA guidelines. We hope to be able to keep you up-to-date with proceedings at the New Defence through our Twitter account.
Horley Town this season
Horley were flying before the regular season was curtailed, sitting second in the table with eight wins, two draws and two defeats from their 12 matches. The Clarets were four points behind leaders Saltdean United but with two games in hand and the best goal difference in the division.
Had the campaign continued, there is every chance that they would have been in title contention. With Saltdean not contesting the Supplementary Shield and Eastbourne Town having already dropped points when only one club qualifies from each group, the Premier Division table pre-lockdown would suggest that Horley have an excellent chance of ending this mini-tournament with some silverware.
Hassocks’ record against Horley Town
The Clarets only joined the Southern Combination League for the 2019-20 season following a sideways move from the Combined Counties League instigated by the FA. Competitive meetings between Horley and Hassocks are therefore a new concept, although the clubs did meet in the FA Vase in 2016-17.
Horley won 4-2 on that occasion, setting the scene for a fixture which they have 100 percent dominance in. There have now been five matches with Town winning every single one, plundering 22 goals along the way at an average of more than four per match. Ouch.
Last time Hassocks played Horley Town
As already noted, the last time Hassocks played Horley was a pretty damning experience for the Robins. The 8-0 scoreline was a club record heaviest home defeat in senior football, not helped by George Brown and Jake Chadwick seeing red for the hosts.
Chadwick’s dismissal was particularly mystifying with even Horley’s players telling referee Daniel Cooper it was not worthy of a sending off. That was the tip of the iceberg in terms of interesting decisions made by the official, who frustrated both sides in equal measure – impressive given one of them scored eight unanswered goals.
Adam Grant hit a hat-trick for Horley, Sean O’Toole a brace and there were singles for Richard Pingling, Lewis Pearch and Tony Halsey. To complete a miserable day at the office, Hassocks also lost the services of goalkeeper Conor Evento who exited proceedings early with injury.
Such a crushing defeat might have done severe damage to the morale and mentality of other teams. Hassocks though are known as a Jekyll and Hyde side for a reason. The Robins went and followed up their 8-0 loss by winning 3-1 at Horsham YMCA three days later for their first league victory at Gorings Mead in 17 years, before hammering Langney Wanderers 7-2 at the Beacon.
