Bumper crowd see Burgess Hill hammer Whitstable

Hill’s first chance fell to Pat Harding when he headed just wide from a long throw on six minutes and ten minutes later he went through one on one with keeper Luke Watkins but again his effort went just wide of the far post.

Joe Keehan went close on twenty one minutes when Callum Saunders put in a corner but his header went just over the bar. Hill kept applying the pressure and Scott Kirkwood created a good chance for himself and he left keeper Watkins helpless but his volley went just over. Darren Budd was provider for Pat Harding but Watkins beat him to the ball and was able to clear it from danger.

Hill took a deserved lead just before half time when Callum Saunders put in a deep corner that Andy Pearson headed back across the box and Sam Fisk headed the ball into the net at the far post.

The second half came to life on fifty minutes when Darren Budd scored a screamer from twenty five yards out and he gave keeper Watkins no chance as his effort flashed into the top corner. Scott Kirkwood was replaced with Dan Pearse on fifty six minutes and soon after Darren Budd set up Lee Harding but Watkins saved at his feet then Ian Chapman made another change with Lee Harding being replaced by Dan Perry.

The home crowd were again given another wonder goal when Darren Budd found Callum Saunders with a cross field ball and he took one touch before volleying the ball past Watkins from outside the box. Toby Pointing was replaced by Graham Martin at right back and he didn’t take long to add his name to the score sheet when he collected the ball in Hill’s half and made a powerful run down the right before linking up with Joe Keehan who laid the ball back to him as he carried his run on into the box and he passed the ball past Watkins into the net to give Hill a four goal lead.

On ninety minutes Dan Perry got Hill’s fifth of the game when he got on the end of a Saunders cross inside the six yard box and calmly slotted the ball home.

Burgess Hill Town: Josh James, Toby Pointing (Graham Martin 74), Sam Fisk, Darren Budd, Andy Pearson, Will Miles, Scott Kirkwood (Dan Pearse 56), Joe Keehan, Pat Harding, Lee Harding (Dan Perry 63), Callum Saunders

Unused Subs: Mitchell Hamilton, Guy Bolton