Measure of revenge for Robins in ending Steyning’s perfect start
Two of the final four in last season’s Southern Combination League Under 18 Supplementary Shield met at the Shooting Field with 100 percent records on the line in the third game of the new Central Division campaign.
And it was visitors Hassocks who came out on top on this occasion, winning 2-1 to gain a small measure of revenge for their last encounter with Steyning Town four months earlier.
That had come in the semi final of the aforementioned competition, a heavy 7-1 defeat against a Steyning outfit who would go onto win the silverware a week later following victory over Bexhill United, confirming the Barrowmen’s place as one of the best youth sides in Sussex last season.
Three points from the short journey west was an excellent result then for Neil Parker, Glenn Geard and their squad.
Four of the players on show for Hassocks were involved in that hammering back in May; Archie Russell, Beau Howard, Louis Thwaites and goalkeeper Jayden Dunkley who was making his first start of the season after being away for the first two wins against Shoreham and Haywards Heath Town.
Sam Geard was also a part of the Hassocks squad last season but he was unavailable for the semi, the absence of one of the Robins’ better players doing little to help their cause that day.
Dunkley replacing Jake Palmer was one of two changes Hassocks made from their 5-0 Mid Sussex derby win against Haywards Heath seven days earlier. The other saw Jack Morris take over from Josh Trinick, who dropped down to the bench.
All the goals came in the first half and remarkably, one substitute from either side was on the scoresheet despite the early nature of the strikes.
For Steyning, that player was Ezra Roeg, who notched what proved to be nothing more than a consolation with 32 minutes played.
Hassocks’ goals meanwhile came from Oliver Parker-Williams and Alfie Beck, who was the Robins’ scorer from the bench. Both were continuing the fine form which had seen them claim braces in that win against Heath.
The result took Hassocks to the top of the early Central Division table ahead of a second local derby of the season in a week’s time when Burgess Hill Town make the short trip to the Beacon.
Hassocks: Jayden Dunkley, Jack Morris, Harry Bundy, Harry Carter, Jamie Douglass, Abir Chowdhury, Archie Hill, Sam Geard, Beau Howard, Oliver Parker-Williams, Archie Russell.
Subs: Alfie Beck, Louis Thwaites, Josh Trinick (used).
