McSwiney makes it another three points for impervious Robins
The good start goes on. Hassocks Under 23s remain unbeaten and level on points with Broadbridge Heath at the top of the Southern Combination League North Division following their fourth victory in five matches.
Their latest victims were Roffey in what was the first ever meeting between the clubs at Under 23 level, the visitors to the Beacon being newcomers to development football this season.
It was a tight game with only one goal in it. That came from Sean McSwiney, scoring for the first time in Hassocks colours to give the Robins a 1-0 victory.
The win gave the Robins a measure of revenge for the chastening 5-1 defeat the first team had suffered at the hands of their Roffey counterparts in the Peter Bentley League Cup nine days earlier.
Whereas the senior side have been struggling to keep goals out, the Under 23s are recording clean sheets for fun.
This was a third shutout in a row registered by a third different goalkeeper. Charlie Pugh was back between the posts here, taking over from Jacob Campbell who had played in last week’s 2-0 victory away at Steyning just four days after shipping those five goals against Roffey.
The identity of the man who started the run of clean sheets is the biggest surprise of the lot. With nobody else available, Hassocks head coach Brad Sweetman found himself having to don the gloves away at Oakwood.
A 2-0 victory means that Sweetman is now the only goalkeeper in Hassocks history to have never conceded a goal in his Robins career – and do not expect him to be putting that perfect record on the line anytime soon!
Pugh taking over from Campbell was one of five changes from the side who had won at the Shooting Field last time out.
Midfielders Jack Baden and Kieran Dimelow were replaced by George Mercer and Louis Thwaites, making his first start of the season.
Also missing out were defenders Charlie Tuck and Arthur Rawlingson with Wes Tighe and Luke Marshall stepping in.
Hassocks seem to chop and change their goalkeeper and back line every week currently, making their current impervious defensive record all the more impressive.
Conventional wisdom suggests that such inconsistencies in the back line should not lend itself to a mean defence, something which the Robins are doing their best to dismiss.
Whilst it was a good evening for McSwiney who got his Hassocks account up and running, it was less enjoyable for Roffey’s Aaron Collins who saw red.
Finishing against 10 men undoubtedly helped the Robins, but still take nothing away from the team who are playing with real confidence so far and are well worth a watch if you have a spare Thursday night.
There is no fixture next week owing to Loxwood withdrawing from the league. That means a two week break before the visit of St Francis Rangers to the Beacon on Thursday 30th September in the first Mid Sussex Derby of the season.
Hassocks: Charlie Pugh, Wes Tighe, Luke Marshall, George Mercer, Harvey Ransome, Louis Thwaites, Sean McSwiney, Connor Bradley, Ben Hicks, Lewis Beebee, Jay Hudson.
Subs: Kobe Dersley, Jacob Kilkelly, Archie Russell, Arthur Rawlingson (used).
