Hassocks to host the Bears and the Lingers in the space of nine August days
Just when you think no more home games could be crammed into the opening two months of the season, Hassocks have been given a further two fixtures at the Beacon before the end of August.
Broadbridge Heath will now visit on Saturday 21st August which became a free weekend for both clubs following their eliminations from the FA Cup at the extra preliminary qualifying round stage.
Whilst the Robins went down to a cruel 2-1 defeat against Spelthorne Sports having led for 83 of the 96 minutes played, the Bears exited the competition at the hands of fellow Premier Division outfit Littlehampton Town, losing 6-2 at High Wood Hill Sports Ground.
Heath’s visit to Mid Sussex had been originally scheduled to take place on the opening day of the Premier Division season on July 31st. Biblical rain fall 90 minutes before kick off left standing water all over the Beacon pitch, forcing the match official to call off the game.
In doing so, the Robins must have set some sort of footballing record for having a competitive game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch in July.
Like Hassocks, Heath have lost both their games so far this season, a 2-1 defeat at Pagham going alongside their FA Cup reversal to Littlehampton.
Heath do though have an excellent recent record against Hassocks. They completed a league double over the Robins last season, with Hassocks last tasting victory against the Bears in October 2017.
The other match to be rearranged is the August Bank Holiday Monday clash with Lingfield, originally scheduled to take place at Godstone Road. Lingfield have requested that the venues be switched and so they make the journey from Surrey on August 30th for an 11am kick off.
Hassocks and Lingfield did not face each other in the regular 2020-21 Premier Division campaign prior to the season being curtailed because of the pandemic.
They were however paired together in Group C of the Supplementary Shield, ending the additional competition as the top two clubs in the group despite the presence of Horley Town and Crawley Down Gatwick.
With the Beacon out of operation because of the drainage works being carried out – the irony – both games were held at Lingfield. The Lingers won the first of those 3-2 with Pat Harding and Jack Troak netting for the Robins.
A week later and the second clash ended in a 2-2 draw, Harding continuing to enjoy his time moonlighting back in a Hassocks shirt with a brace.
The venue switch means that Hassocks will now kick off the new year by travelling to Lingfield on Monday 3rd January 2022.
