Westlake on Hassocks after solid start: Our focus is on building momentum
Hassocks are out to build on a strong start to the season – and build momentum towards a Southern Combination Premier promotion push.
The Robins sit fifth in the early table having won four and drawn two of their opening seven league games.
Their latest runout in the league resulted in a 3-1 win at Little Common thanks to goals by Lewis Croal, Jamie Wilkes and Dan Turner.
Westlake’s team visit Crawley Down Gatwick on Saturday with hopes high that they can sustain another promotion bid two years after they ran away with the SCFL Premier title.
Westlake said of the SCFL campaign: “There is plenty of football to be played in the league.
"We are in touching distance of the top teams and our focus is on building momentum over the next month or so.”
They’ve also had success in the cups, and although their FA Cup run is over they remain in the FA Vase after a win on penalties over Abbey Rangers in the last round.
That has set up a first round trip to Bearsted of the Southern Counties East League Premier Divisionon on Saturday, October 10.
The Vase campaign is capturing fans’ imagination and Westlake said of the win over Abbey: "It certainly was an action packed game of football.
"Abbey Rangers certainly edged the first half but we reacted positively in the second half and it was pleasing to go on and win the game on penalties.”
The trip to Bearsted in next round is one the boss is looking forward to.
"It is an exciting fixture for everyone at the club,” he said.
”But our focus will be on the league and other cup competitions before we turn our attentions to this game.”
Hassocks arre also still in the Sussex Transport Senior Cup after a 1-0 win at Bexhill in the first round.
They will visit Hailsham Town in round two.
"We have been struggling with injuries and player availability in recent weeks and the fixture at Bexhill did not come at a great time for us,” Westlake said. "Having said that, the players that were available performed brilliantly well.
"I’ve not seen such a one sided 1-0 win for a long time and the only negative to take from the game was not scoring more than we did.”
If that’s not enough competitions, the Robins were in Sussex RUR Cup action on Tuesday at Eastbourne United.
This time there was no penalty shootout joy for Hassocks – they lost 5-4 on spot-kicks after Lewis Finney and Lewis Croal scored in a 2-2 draw.