Robins fly east for Common’s first game at the Recreation Ground for four years
After over four years away from the Recreation Ground, Little Common will host a home league game on their own patch when Hassocks make the long trip east.
Common have spent nearly half-a-decade as tenants at Eastbourne United’s Oval. The move was necessary as the Recreation Ground did not have the required grading to enable Russell Eldridge’s side to take their place in the Southern Combination Premier, at a time when they were consistently finishing towards the top of Division One.
Promotion was won in 2018. After a long battle and lots of hard work of the sort you only get in non league football, Common now have the facilities required to host top flight football.
Their first game back at the Recreation Ground took place on Tuesday night in the Sussex Senior Cup against Three Bridges.
Home fans were impressed by the upgrades, even as Bridges ruined the party by winning 3-0 in front of a healthy and intrigued crowd of 204.
Common will want to avoid a loss in their first ever Premier Division game at the Recreation Ground. A tough test lies in wait, even with Hassocks in their best form of the season.
Little Common this season
It has been a season of two halves for Little Common. Up until the end of October, they were absolutely flying and looking on course for a top five position which few would have
predicted in pre-season.
Since then however, Common have failed to win any of their past 10 Premier Division matches. They will want to set that record straight against Hassocks and improve on their current standing of 11th in the table.
Little Common v Hassocks head-to-head
The two sides have met on 16 previous occasions. Only three of those so far have come in the Premier Division; two meetings in 2018-19 and the clash at the Beacon earlier this season.
A combination of wet weather and lockdowns meant that there were no Little Common v Hassocks matches played in either the 2019-20 or 2020-21 campaigns.
The majority of those 16 games took place in Division One during the late 1980s and early 1990s. In terms of the head-to-head, Hassocks have won five matches and Common six, leaving five draws – so there is not much to separate the sides historically.
Last time Hassocks played Little Common
Common visited the Beacon back in September when they were enjoying that superb start to the season which had them challenging towards the top of the table.
Conversely, Hassocks were going through one of their roughest patches as a young squad tried to adapt to the demands of senior football.
Jack McLean scored twice in the space of five minutes late in the first half. Lewis Hole then added a third three minutes into the second half as the visitors ran out 3-0 winners.
How to get to Little Common Recreation Ground
Take the A27 to the east of the county, passing Eastbourne and then joining the A259. When approaching Bexhill, you will enter Little Common and arrive at a large roundabout with
the Wheatsheaf pub on your left.
Take the second exit onto Peartree Lane. After passing Ocklynge Close on the left, take the next right onto Green Lane and the Recreation Ground is on your immediate right.
Admission prices are £6 adults, £3 concessions and £1 for under 16s.
