Crawley Down Gatwick 3, Hassocks 0: Robins fail to reach semi finals of a cup again

Harry Mills in action for Hassocks against CDG. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

In their 124 year history, Hassocks have only ever made it to the semi final of a senior cup competition on four occasions.

And that barren run was extended as they failed to convert any of their numerous opportunities before being hit by three goals late on in an RUR Charity Cup quarter final defeat at Crawley Down Gatwick.

The Peter Bentley League Cup of 1997 and this competition in 1994, 2000 and 2012 were those four times Hassocks have managed to get within a game of a first ever final at senior level.

They won't have had many better opportunities that this, on paper a relatively kind draw against fellow Premier Division strugglers who they defeated 6-4 in a crazy encounter only 17 days ago.

The victory that day and the half dozen goals that flew in from the Robins was largely inspired by a brilliant performance from the front line of Jamie Hillwood, Phil Gault and Nathan Miles.

Hillwood and Miles were absent for this one while Gault climbed off his sickbed but was only well enough to take a place on the bench, eventually appearing as a used substitute for only the sixth time in 304 games for the club.

But not even the arrival on the pitch of their talismanic forward could turn the tide for Hassocks, who named only one recognised striker in their starting 11 in Ben Bacon with Mark Price returning to the side to take up a number 10 role.