Mansell asks for Burgess Hill Town response – and gets it
Gary Mansell backed his Burgess Hill Town players to bounce back from a league setback at Welling – and he was right to.
Hill lost 4-2 at Welling in the Isthmian Premier last Saturday on a day when manager Mansell admitted some of their defending wasn’t good enough but also felt a first-half referee’s decision cost them dear.
He wanted an improvement in Wednesdsay night’s visit to face AFC Whyteleafe – and got it, in the form of a superb comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
After Toby Aromolaran and Matt Warren scored in a five-minute spell to put the Leafe in charge, a Charlie Lambert double before the break pulled Hill back to 2-2. Then Yoan Edoukou pounced for an 83rd minute winner.
The win leaves Mansell’s men eighth and just two points outside the play-off zone.
Speaking before the win over Whyteleafe, Mansell was all too aware a little more consistency can keep them in the mix.
They continue a week of road trips at Erith Town on Saturday in the FA Trophy and at St Albans on Tuesday in the Isthmian Premier.
On Saturday, Hamish Morrison and George Vorster were on target at Welling but they were chasing the game by then.
Mansell said of the defeat: "We're deflated – we were a bit flat the previous Saturday [against Aveley] then excellent on the Tuesday [against Dulwich].
“I wouldn't say we were flat at Welling. We worked hard and competed, it was down to a bit of detail.
“The first half was decided on a poor refereeing decision. There was clearly a corner [to Hill] and although a lot happened after that and we have to defend better from the throw-in, that decision took away from us an opportunity to score and puts them in an area they wanted to be in. But we were disappointed with our second-phase defending.
“Things we did well on Tuesday defending our box we didn't do well in that moment.
“In the second half it opened up more and I have to hold my hands up – I think I got the match-ups wrong on our left-hand side. That's something we've got to look at and I've got to look at. It was a key match-up that we probably got wrong.
“Welling's second goal was a great finish, then we got ourselves back into the game, and at that point we have to go on and try to get something from the game.
“A minute later it's poor defending to give away a free kick and poor marking in the box. And I think that goal probably killed the game.
“We can't dwell on it, we have to pick ourselves up and go again.”
And go again was exactly what they did against Whyteleafe.
As Hill try to establish themselves as promotion contenders, there is plenty going on around the club to build its infrastructure – with the women’s sides and youth teams all important to the plan.
Mansell said: “It's going in the right direction. It's growing and results in the main are good.”