Groundhop weekend puts Southern Combination Premier Division on show

The Southern Combination's Groundhop weekend gave the Premier Division an unusually public week, and Crawley Down Gatwick had the opening fixture. According to the club, 425 came through the gates at The Haven for a Friday night game against Little Common. The hosts were 2-0 down before winning 4-2, with two former youth players on the scoresheet and new signing Zack Tarrant opening his account. The club saved its warmest thanks for its volunteers.

Hassocks hosted Pagham in the Saturday morning 11am kick-off, with the sides fifth and eighth in the table. Omar Abdsami's penalty doubled the Robins' lead and proved the winning goal, earning him the Robins Starman award. Captain Harvey Blake also reached 250 appearances for the club that weekend. The club's preview noted that Pagham reached the FA Cup second qualifying round this season, equalling their best run in the competition, and that Hassocks had gone unbeaten through three road trips before the visit. Newhaven hosted Bexhill United on Sunday afternoon at Fort Road.

Away from the Groundhop, Haywards Heath Town had the week's biggest crowd. A club-record 1,267 watched them beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 in the Sussex Senior Cup, with goalkeeper Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke named man of the match. Back in the league, Lukas Jones scored a first-half hat-trick and Harry Shooman added a fourth in a 4-0 win over Midhurst.

Roffey won 4-0 at Wick, with Allen, Mesquita and a brace from Berry, to make it five games unbeaten. That run includes a 0-0 draw at Pagham in midweek. Seaford Town came from behind to beat East Grinstead Town 3-2, Josh Wright scoring all three in the second half. Forest Row beat AFC Varndeanians 3-1, and the club said Joe Hasler scored a hat-trick for a fourth straight home win.

It was a quieter week for Lingfield, whose winning run ended with a 2-1 defeat at Combined Counties League side Sheerwater in the Surrey Senior Cup. They then drew 2-2 with Eastbourne United while down to ten men.

At Bexhill United, Anthony Thomas joined from Eastbourne United after 26 senior appearances last season, and Connor Robertson returned after an 18-month absence to shore up a depleted defence. The club also wished Richie Welch and Max Hollobone well as they await scans on knee injuries.