Hassocks battled manfully in the second half to complete another memorable double as this time it was multi-talented Rye who suffered.

The visitors pressed for the whole of the second 45 minutes but managed to peg back only one goal when Duncan McArthur bent a free kick around the wall after Ashley Marsh’s 74th minute foul on Rye skipper Scott Ramsay.

The Robins, who have also beaten hopefuls Pagham twice, had gone ahead just 32 seconds into the match when keeper Josh Pelling spilled James Westlake’s punt into the box and Phil Johnson scored from 18 yards.

After that Rye saw plenty of the ball, with Wes Tate and Liam Upton looking particularly lively down the flanks and getting over some good crosses. But the hosts survived and a wonder goal by Phil Gault put them 2-0 up on 41 minutes.

Johnson’s run into the box was curtailed by what looked a foul but it hardly mattered as the ball broke to Gault 35 yards out and his first-time strike sailed in over the back-pedalling keeper.

A minute later Chris Maynard cleared off the line from Matt Maclean and there was bags more defending for Hassocks to do after the break.

The home side did go close with a dipping Jamie Weston volley but nearly all the action was at the other end. Shaun Loft volleyed over, Sam Adams was just too high as he lifted the ball over Jack Simpson and then after the Rye goal, Simpson just managed to get a boot to the ball when Ramsay went clean through.

Late on Hassocks sub Sam Jeremiah missed a one-on-one but the hosts had their defence to thank for an excellent double.

Hassocks: Simpson; South, Marsh, Faith, Maynard; Westlake, O’Callaghan, Cooper, Weston, Johnson; Gault.

Subs: Jeremiah (Weston 78), Palmer (Johnson 88)

Starman: Stuart Faith, skipper led by example at the back.