Pope and Vorster earn Burgess Hill Town four points from six

Hill returned to the Medical Travel Compared Stadium for Dartford’s visit to Mid Sussex on a fresh Friday night.

The match started very cagily, with both sides finding their feet and adapting to conditions. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession and had some early half-chances, with Vorster having the closest opportunity for the Hillians just after the half-hour mark. His free-kick from just outside the box was well saved by the Dartford goalkeeper.

Then, in the 31st minute, Burgess Hill opened the scoring through Pope. The goal came after the home side had created a number of dangerous set-piece opportunities, with the ball falling loose to Pope on the left-hand side, around 25 yards from goal. He half-volleyed the ball over the keeper and into the top corner to give the Hillians the lead.

Dartford reacted very well and put pressure on the home side after going a goal down. Then, just before half-time, Dartford equalised through Jez Pinder.

At the start of the second half, Hill made a change, with Hamish Morrison replacing Nicky Wheeler. As the second half progressed towards the halfway point, the game continued in a similar fashion to the first, with both sides enjoying spells of possession as they looked to retake the lead.

Hill made their second change in the 72nd minute, with Charlie Lambert replacing Vorster. The substitution nearly paid off immediately, as Lambert, with his first touch, nearly sent the MTC wild with a first-time volley which narrowly went over the bar.

However, the biggest turning point in the game came soon after, as Dartford’s Emman Oke received his second yellow card and Dartford were reduced to 10 men for the final 15 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Chris Whelpdale was replaced by Shamir Fenelon for the Hillians, before Josh Rusoke was brought on for Reggie Ward in the 85th minute.

The home side were on the front foot and dominant in their search for a winning goal, which duly came in the 88th minute through that man again, Pope. After great work from the back, the ball was played down the right-hand side before being crossed back into the box for Pope, who calmly converted to put the Hillians back in front.

In front of a 1,000-strong crowd inside the MTC, the Hillians managed to secure all three points. Match sponsors M Marchant Lead Roofing awarded the Man of the Match prize to Ben Pope after his two-goal performance.

On Monday, the derby at Whitehawk proved a forgettable affair and it looked for much of the afternoon as though Rhyas Murphy’s goal for Jay Lovett’s Hawks would be enough to win. But Vorster had other ideas and levelled in the tenth minute of injury time.

Hill are in FA Cup action on Saturday, at home to Jersey Bulls.