10 goals scored but nothing can separate Hassocks and Hill in pulsating Mid Sussex Derby
Mid Sussex Derby day in the Southern Combination League Under 18 Central Division did not disappoint. Hassocks and Burgess Hill Town shared the spoils and 10 goals in an extraordinary 5-5 draw at the Beacon.
Entertainment is normally guaranteed when Robins meet Hillians but never to this degree as Hassocks dropped their first points of the season under their new management team of Neil Parker and Glenn Geard.
Nobody would have predicted the carnage that was about to unfold before kick off, Hassocks coming into the game having conceded just once from their opening three matches, all of which were won to put the Robins top of the early league table.
The previous week had seen an excellent 2-1 win away at Steyning Town. The Barrowmen had been the outstanding side in the Southern Combination League Youth section last season, winning the Supplementary Shield competition introduced post-lockdown by beating Bexhill United in the final back in May.
Steyning had eliminated Hassocks 7-1 in the semis the previous week, so for the Robins to go to the Shooting Field and pick up three points four months later was an excellent result.
There were two changes from the victory over the Barrowmen. One of those came in goal, where Jayden Dunkley was replaced by Jake Palmer.
Palmer had kept clean sheets in his first two appearances for the Robins, the 1-0 win away at Shoreham on the opening day and a 5-0 success over another Mid Sussex rival, Haywards Heath Town, seven days later.
The other change saw Alfie Beck step up from the bench having scored the winner against Steyning. He took over from Harry Carter.
What would have pleased Hassocks is that their five goals came from five different players, indicating that this Robins side can score from multiple sources as they went into half time 4-3 ahead.
Beck was in the goals again, justifying his return to the starting XI with a fourth goal in as many appearances so far this season.
Oliver Parker-Williams also has four now after netting against Hill, Archie Russell notched his first of the season and Abir Chowdbury also
got off the mark with his first for the club.
Hassocks’ fifth scorer was Sam Geard, another player in good form. He has four to his name and if he continues in this vein, he will surely continue to be in and around the senior set up after making three appearances so far for the first team.
For Hill, Max Johnson enjoyed a dream start by scoring twice inside the opening 16 minutes. Louis White was on target four minutes before half time and Alex Thompson five minutes into the second half.
The visitors scoring was rounded off by substitute Noah Fewtrell with just 60 seconds of normal time remaining to earn Hill a point at the end of a second half which ‘only’ contained three goals.
Hassocks: Jake Palmer, Jack Morris, Harry Bundy, Jamie Douglass, Abir Chowdhury, Archie Hill, Sam Geard, Beau Howard, Alfie Beck, Oliver Parker-Williams, Archie Russell.
Subs: Daniel Llwellyn, Rob Newman, Joe Woodhouse (used).
