Hassocks meet Southern Counties East Premier Division side K Sports for the first ever time at the Beacon this Saturday.
The tie takes place in the first qualifying round of the Buildbase FA Vase, a competition the Robins have not tasted victory in since the 2014-15 season.
That was a 3-1 success over Corinthian in the first round of the competition thanks to two goals from Phil Johnson and one from Nathan Miles.
Qualifying for the second round equalled Hassocks’ best ever run but that was where the journey came to an end in quite some style as the Robins suffered their biggest effort defeat in the competition, going down 7-0 to Ashford United.
The Robins conquerors finished second in the Southern Counties East League that season, a division that K Sports are competing in for the first time following their runners up finish in Division One last time out.
K Sports have made an impressive start to life in the top division and if their results so far are anything to go by, Hassocks will have their work cut out to avoid an early elimination from the Vase.
They kicked off their league season with a 4-2 win over Erith Town, who eliminated Hassocks from the FA Cup at the Beacon three weeks ago.
The Paperboys own FA Cup game was their first ever foray into the competition and saw them hold Pagham – one of the favourites for the Southern Combination League title – 2-2 at K Sports Cobdown. Their trip to Nyetimber Lane in the replay didn’t go quite so well with Pagham eventually winning through 2-0.
K Sports did enter the FA Vase last season, eliminating Colliers Wood United and Abbey Rangers to make it to the first round proper, where they went down to a 4-3 defeat away at Canterbury City.
Kick off at the Beacon is 3pm and entry is £6 adults, £3 concessions with under 16s going free.
