Burgess Hill lose to solitary goal at Harrow Borough

A seventh minute Lewis Driver goal saw Harrow Borough complete a double over Burgess Hill Town, although the Hillians put in a much improved performance from the last time these two sides met.
Darren Budd, Burgess Hill Town. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-140822-125722001Darren Budd, Burgess Hill Town. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-140822-125722001
Darren Budd, Burgess Hill Town. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-140822-125722001

Hill endured a torrid night when Borough visited the Green Elephants Stadium last month losing 5-0 and preparation for this match was highly disrupted.

With the game due to kick- off at 7:45pm, the players and management didn’t arrive at the ground until 7:30pm due to heavy traffic in the area and the game eventually kicked-off at 8pm.

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Ian Chapman made one change from the starting XI that picked up an impressive draw away at Hampton & Richmond Borough three days earlier with George Branford replacing the injured Joe Keehan.

With preparation disrupted Hillians started slowly and Harrow pressed the Hillians early on and created a couple of half chances.

The hosts didn’t have to wait long for a goal as Driver gave Borough the lead, he collected the ball in the box and hit a low shot into the bottom corner past Josh James.

The goal woke the Hillians up and the visitors began to play some good football. Lee Harding on the left gave Harrow full back Josh Webb a hard time, beating him a few times and sending in some dangerous crosses.

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The first looked to be going straight to Chris Smith but home defender Michael Peacock got to the ball first and knocked it out for a corner.

Michael Bryan had a powerful effort from the edge of the box saved by James and at the other end Hillians went close to equalising just before half-time.

Callum Saunders’ deep corner was collected by Will Miles, he put the ball back into the box and found Saunders who took two touches before firing a low shot which look set for the bottom corner until the ball was blocked three yards out and cleared.

The Hillians started well in the second half and skipper Darren Budd’s flicked header went close from Dan Pearse’s cross.

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Borough should have doubled their lead when Bryan broke down the right and crossed by the bye line to David Taylor but he headed over from six yards.

Hillians pressed looking for an equaliser having plenty of possession but couldn’t break down Borough’s stubborn defence.

Chapman threw on strikers Pat Harding and Dan Perry but Hill couldn’t find a way through as Borough held out for the three points.

Man of the Match: Dan Pearse, another solid performance at right back

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Hillians: Josh James, Dan Pearse, Toby Pointing, Andy Pearson, Will Miles, George Branford, Scott Kirkwood (Guy Bolton 59), Darren Budd (Pat Harding 76), Callum Saunders (Dan Perry 84), Lee Harding, Chris Smith.

Not used: Cam Wiltshere, Mitch Hamilton.

Harrow: Ben Goode, Josh Webb, Jack Waldren, Anthony Page, Michael Peacock, Joshua Webb, Michael Bryan, David Taylor, Marc Charles-Smith (Will Turl 72), Lewis Drive (Spencer McCall 90), Dylan Cascoe (Kameron English 84).

Not used: Connor French, Mark McLeod.

Attendance: 161

Colin Bowman made the trip to Harrow - read his views here

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