Has he got a big enough mantlepiece? It is another Player of the Month for Alfie Loversidge
Has Alfie Loversidge got a big enough mantlepiece? The young forward added the Hassocks October Player of the Month award to his September gong as his superb 2021-22 season continued.
It was a two-horse race for the title between Loversidge and Josh Short, who can consider himself unlucky to have not won a Player of the Month award of his own having finished in the top three in every vote so far.
On this occasion, Loversidge picked up 45.5 percent, beating Short who secured 36.4 percent. Charlie Pugh and Arthur Rawlingson shared third after both took 9.1 percent.
Loversidge started October by scoring the Hassocks goal in an impressive 1-1 draw at Bexhill United. Better was to come the following week when he hit his first senior hat-trick, firing the Robins to a vital 4-1 win over AFC Varndeanians.
The teenager was unplayable against V’s, earning and converting the penalty which completed his treble and playing a minor role in Joe Bull’s opener.
Having started the season playing in midfield, Loversidge drew comparisons for his October performances with another youth team product who found himself thrown up front once in the senior setup to great effect – Matt Amos.
If Loversidge can go onto have as big an impact as Amos managed, then there will be many more Player of the Month awards to come.
The main reason that Loversidge was so prolific throughout October was because of the work of Short in midfield.
Short has already established himself as a firm fan favourite and spent most of the month being at the heart of everyone good that Hassocks did having been given a little more freedom in a more attacking role.
Nothing could separate Pugh and Rawlingson in third. Goalkeeper Pugh was voted as Man-of-the-Match in both the Eastbourne United and Horsham YMCA defeats following a string of excellent saves to prevent Hassocks falling to heavy defeats.
Rawlingson meanwhile enjoyed a run of starts in defence as injuries began to bite. He made the most of the opportunity, putting in several solid shifts and showcasing his versatility by successfully filling both right back and centre back roles.
