Hassocks shocking Saltdean was the December highlight as the Robins continued to turn their season around
Having made it through the first four months of the 2021-22 Southern Combination League season without too much bother from the Great British weather, Hassocks managed only two matches in December as rain caused problems for the fixture list.
The first of those saw the Robins visit Eastbourne Town, a place where Hassocks have picked up just one solitary point since their last victory at the Saffrons back in 2006.
And although the Robins suffered their usual defeat on the Sunshine Coast, the 5-2 loss did not tell the entire story of a game that was far closer than the scoreline would suggest.
Town came into the fixture in formidable form having won 10 and drawn five of their past 15 matches in all competitions.
Home fans were given an early indication that facing Hassocks would not be a walk in the park when the Robins should have taken the lead inside of the first two minutes.
James Westlake released Josh Short down the channel and Short did well to cut inside but his final effort was a weak one that did little to trouble Chris Winterton in the Town goal.
The hosts punished that miss with 10 on the clock when taking advantage of some poor Hassocks marking at a corner to move 1-0 ahead. The Robins failed to clear their lines and that left Kevin Farragher with a tap in.
1-0 became 2-0 midway through the first half. Dan Turner was unfortunate to see an excellent last ditch tackle fall straight to Arron Hopkinson who fired past Alex Harris.
Hassocks had a big penalty shout on the half hour mark when Alfie Loversidge was hauled down right on the edge of the Town box.
The Robins were left incensed when referee Nick Blogg decided the incident had happened outside the area and awarded a free kick, although their mood soon changed when Lewis Westlake beat Winterton with the help of a heavy deflection to make it 2-1.
Hassocks were in control for the next 30 minutes. It took a moment of magic from Kian Moynes to turn the tide on the hour mark, scoring an absolute screamer with one of the crispest strikes of a football possible to put Town 3-1 ahead against the run of play.
That goal seemed to deflate Hassocks and they conceded twice more in the following eight minutes as Town sewed up the three points.
Louis Veneti finished off a pleasant passing move with a dink over Harris, followed by Hopkinson converting a right wing cross for his second of the afternoon.
Frustrations boiled over for the Robins, culminating with Harris entering the sin bin after launching a tirade at Mr Blogg.
It was whilst playing with only 10 men and Turner in goal that the Robins found their second consolation. Sam Smith marked his first Hassocks appearance after becoming the latest player to join the club from Loxwood by powering in a debut header at the far post having ghosted in unnoticed from the left flank.
Saltdean United provided the second December opponents for Hassocks with the Robins giving a bumper crowd at the Beacon an early Christmas present by holding the Premier Division leaders to a 1-1 draw.
In the week leading up to their visit to Mid Sussex, the Tigers had stuck nine unanswered goals past East Preston and then made a mockery of the three divisions separating themselves from Eastbourne Borough by eliminating the National League South side from the Sussex Senior Cup.
What made Hassocks’ point all the more impressive is that it was achieved without two of their most important players.
Turner and Short were both absent, their places taken by Jordan Badger and Jack Troak. Captain Jack was making only his third start of the season after recovering from a hernia problem.
Saltdean took the lead on 20 minutes via an elegant strike from Tom Caplin. Hassocks were unable to clear their lines and Caplin took advantage, driving a clinical effort into the bottom corner from 22 yards.
Undeterred, Hassocks stuck to their gameplan of playing on the counter. It bore deserved rewards on 54 minutes when a Troak shot was blocked straight to Loversidge who slammed home his eighth of the season.
Saltdean threw everything they had at the Robins in the final 30 minutes but Hassocks put in a memorable rearguard performance to hold on, claiming a famous point that led to wild celebrations at full time.
If anyone doubted whether the tide had turned after that troubling start to the season, this was the afternoon that proved it to set the Robins up nicely going into 2022.
The Under 23s managed two fixtures in December, from which they took the maximum six points. Troak scored twice in a 4-0 win against Alfold as he continued his return to fitness in the month’s opening fixture. Louis Thwaites and Jude Wallis were also on target.
Hassocks then took local bragging rights by beating St Francis Rangers 3-1 in a Mid Sussex Derby. Short, Josh Hawkes and Archie Russell got the goals.
The Under 18s suffered two 2-1 defeats against Brighton-based opponents. Oliver Parker-Williams scored in both of those matches, the first of which was away at eventual Central Division champions Montpelier Villa and the second at home to AFC Varndeanians.
A very tough looking Sussex Veterans Challenge Cup third round tie lay in store for Hassocks against Mile Oak, opponents who were regulars in the final of the county’s showpiece Vets competition.
Oak did indeed go all the way to Culver Road again in 2021-22, where they were beaten by Eastbourne Town. They advanced past Hassocks and into the quarter finals by edging out a seven goal thriller 4-3.
On target for the Robins were Pat Harding, Joel Harding and Dave Juniper. Having waited nearly 40 years for the Hardings to score in the same game together, it had now happened twice in the space of a month. Proof that veterans football really is special.
The Ladies played just once in December, suffering a 3-0 defeat away at Montpelier Villa. That made it only one win from their opening six games of the season, although just like the first team they were about to embark on a much improved second half of the campaign once the new year rolled around.
