Two weeks ago and Storm Eunice brought the strongest winds Sussex had experienced for 30 years with her. Football across the Southern Combination League was disrupted, including Hassocks’ trip to Horsham YMCA.
With the forecast looking much better, there is a good chance that this hastily rearranged clash at Gorings Mead will go-ahead second time around.
It kicks off a big 11 days for the Robins, with bottom of the table East Preston to visit the Beacon next weekend in a huge game in the Premier Division relegation battle.
Hassocks then travel to Seaford Town for their Sussex Principal RUR Charity Cup quarter final on Tuesday 15th March, the game having been switched to the Crouch after two attempts to play it in Mid Sussex were lost to the weather.
Horsham YMCA this season
Horsham YMCA legend Dean Carden is at the helm for his first full season as manager and so far, it is going reasonably well.
YM spent the whole of 2020-21 campaign in the relegation zone before the season was curtailed but they have rarely troubled the bottom three this season, currently occupying 13th position having won nine, drawn six and lost 15 of their 30 games so far.
That leaves them eight points ahead of Hassocks in the table. Three points for the Robins would therefore not only ease their relegation fears, but also put them within touching distance of YM with eight matches of the season to play.
Horsham YMCA v Hassocks head-to-head
The bad news Here is that Hassocks do not have a particularly good record against YM, opponents who they have faced on more occasions than any other Southern Combination League club.
In 52 meetings, the Robins have won only 13 times compared to YM’s 27 victories. There have been 13 draws, so this is very much a fixture dominated by the team in white.
The main reason why YM lead the head-to-head by such is a distance is because of their imperious record at Gorings Mead.
Since 2000, Hassocks have won only three Premier Division games away at YMCA. The Robins can at least take solace from the fact that one of those victories came on their last visit in October 2020, Charlie Pitcher scoring twice and a Jack Troak penalty securing a 3-1 success.
Last time Hassocks played Horsham YMCA
YMCA ran out 2-1 winners at the Beacon in October but in truth it should have been a far more comfortable win for the visitors.
Hassocks were indebted to the brilliance of Charlie Pugh in goal, who prevented a cricket score with a string of sensational saves.
Mark Pritchard-Cave put YM ahead in the fifth minute, a goal cancelled out by a penalty from Phil Gault, who had a brief spell at Gorings Mead earlier in his career.
It looked like Hassocks might escape from the game with a point until former Dorking Wanderers goal machine Tom Tolfrey found the winner YM deserved with 10 minutes remaining.
How to get to Gorings Mead
The ground is situated on the outskirts of Horsham town centre. Take the A272 to Cowfold before joining the A281 towards Horsham.
Once in the town, Gorings Mead is located on the left before the railway bridge. The road itself is directed to by the “YMCA” sign.
There is extremely limited parking at the ground and when that is full there is no parking in the street leading to the ground.
Visitors are advised to park in one of the many car parks serving the town centre that are a five-minute walk away.
