VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Late penalty denies Burgess Hill Town a point at Leatherhead

It was a definite penalty and sending off as Scott Kirkwood tipped the ball over the bar on the line from a header that had beaten Josh James although the game could have been completely different had the Hillians been awarded what looked like two stonewall penalties.

Pat Harding twice appeared to be fouled with the score at 0-0 and the referee dismissed both shouts.

Manager Ian Chapman re-called six players to the starting line-up following last week’s Robert Dyas League Cup exit against Dorking Wanderers.

Goalkeeper Josh James, Sam Fisk, Will Miles, Darren Budd Callum Saunders and Pat Harding were the returnees. Luc Doherty made his first league start for the Club and recent signing Ollie Rowland also made his first league start.

Harding had an effort saved just three minutes in and a minute later the dangerous Karagiannis beat three players before shooting weakly at James.

The Tanners did take the lead though on 13 minutes when Karagiannis fantastically volleyed into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Neither side created too many chances in the first half, Phil Walsh had a header from a free kick go over, but Leatherhead doubled their lead a minute before the break.

Again it was Karagiannis and again it was another super strike this time he curled a left footed shot into the top corner.

Chapman made changes at half time, Joe Keehan, on a booking and suffering with a cut above his eye, came off for striker Chris Smith and Saunders was replaced by Lee Harding.

The changes seemed to make an impact and the Hillians had the better chances of the second as they put in a much improved performance.

8 minutes in the hosts advantage was halved as Sam Fisk’s low drive flew into the bottom corner after good work by Smith.

Kirkwood had a shot from 20 yards comfortably saved by Louis Wells, but the Hillians did get their equaliser on the 64th minutes as creator of the first goal, Smith scored Hill’s second.

Harding crossed from the left and Smith turned and half volleyed his shot into the back of the net.

The Hillians looked the most likely to go on and win the game but it wasn’t to be their day as Leatherhead got the winner from the penalty spot as Karagiannis completed his hat-trick.

Hill put some pressure on but couldn’t force another leveller. Will Miles did have a late chance but his volley from Rowland’s ball went over.

Chapman said after “The first half we weren’t good enough and we gave two sloppy goals away which were both good finishes on their behalf, both in the top corner”.

“But it wasn’t good enough and then second half we got back in it and obviously it was a shame to give a penalty away, it was a penalty and a sending off so that happens. Overall we are just a bit disappointed with the referee really, he was really poor today and I feel that we had two penalties when it was 0-0, two stonewall penalties that should have been given but weren’t”.

“But there are no excuses and it happens and after that we get punished and they score two goals but I thought the second half we were excellent. We looked like the side most likely to win the game and then we give a corner away and not defended properly and you can’t allow people to have free headers in the box so you get what you deserve”.

“We are really pleased with how we played in the second half. Chris Smith got a goal and the first goal was excellent from Fisky and there’s loads of positives but at the moment we are just struggling to keep clean sheets; we’ve kept one all season I think it is and that’s where we get punished at the moment because we are scoring goals and that’s good but defensively as a team we are conceding far too many so when these mid-week games stop we will be able to train and work on these sort of things”.

Man of the Match: Will Miles – Solid performance, he grew as the game went on.

Hillians: Josh James, Luc Doherty, Sam Fisk, Will Miles, Toby Pointing, Joe Keehan (Chris Smith 46), Darren Budd (Cam Wiltshire 79), Scott Kirkwood, Ollie Rowland, Callum Saunders (Lee Harding 46), Pat Harding.

Not used: Dan Perry & Guy Bolton

Leatherhead: Louis Wells, Howard Hall, Ryan Mahal, Matt Smart, Phil Walsh, Jerry Nnamani, Wes Daly (Josh Gallagher 69), Paul Semakula, Tashan Adeyinka (Stephen Okoh 79), Kiernan Hughes-Mason, Vasieleious Karagiannis (Adam Green 90).

Not used: Joey Taylor, Daniel Burnett-Williams.

Attendance: 283