Another embarrassing cup exit at the hands of lower division opposition for Hassocks

Charlie Pitcher, Jack Troak, Bradley Bant and Phil Gault were all spared the long journey to the Rotherfield.

Will Broomfield was there but he was watching from the stands rather than influencing proceedings on the pitch and James Littlejohn and Jack Gardner were both rested with places among a bench of only four.

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The result was a 3-0 victory for Midhurst and another embarrassing cup exit at the hands of lower division opponents for the Robins’ impressive collection.

Of course, should Hassocks go onto pick up points from their next two Premier Division fixtures away at early season strugglers Broadbridge Heath and East Preston, then the decision to rest so many key players will have been justified.

On the other hand, momentum is a big thing in football and Hassocks were starting to build some after impressive back-to-back victories against Pagham and Peacehaven & Telscombe.

If defeat against Midhurst brings a shuddering halt to the roll that the Robins looked to be on, then deliberately sacrificing the competition will look like a questionable decision - especially if the Stags are given a bumper payday in the next round via a home draw with one of the big boys of Sussex football.

Another way to look at such wholesale changes is that they presented opportunities for Hassocks’ fringe players to stake a claim for more regular action.

None of them really did, which was arguably the most disappointing aspect of the evening - and a point hammered home by assistant Mark Enticknap in a scathing half time team talk delivered on the pitch due to current Covid-19 restrictions preventing away teams from using the changing rooms at the interval.

Hassocks were already 3-0 down by that point in time having conceded three very soft goals inside the opening 34 minutes.