Reality check as Burgess Hill edged out

AFTER STARTING life in the Ryman Premier with consecutive wins, there was a reality check for Ian Chapman’s side on Saturday as they lost their first game of the season to Grays Athletic at The Green Elephants Stadium.

In last year’s Ryman South title-winning campaign, the Hillians remained unbeaten in the league until mid-March, but that run was ended just three games into this campaign with a home league loss.

Hill struggled to cope with the pace and intensity of the Grays frontmen throughout the contest.

Joe Keehan, who is usually so dependable, misjudged a clearance on 25 minutes which allowed Grays to take the lead.

His error allowed Dumebi GB-Dumaka to race in behind the Hill backline and the frontmen then crashed a shot past Josh James.

An unwelcome injury to Scott Kirkwood forced an early change, with Dan Pearse entering the fray three minutes before the end of the opening half.

The Hillian’s best chance of the first period came moments before the half-time whistle.

However, Josh Jones’ well-struck effort was caught by Johnson in the Grays goal.

Tommy Fraser went close ten minutes after the break, hitting straight at Johnson following a goal-mouth scramble.

That miss proved to be costly, though, as just minutes later Grays doubled their lead.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson managed to turn Toby Pointing in the area and coolly finish just before the hour mark and put his side firmly in control of the Ryman Premeier clash.

Grays continued to ask questions of the home side.

This prompted Hill boss Chapman in to a double change as he went in search of a comeback.

Chris Smith and George Branford came on for Darren Budd and Tommy Fraser respectively.

That changed proved to make a differnce as Smith netted two minutes from time.

It was Smith who gave the Hillians a lifeline two minutes from time.

The frontman reacted quickest to Pat Harding’s strike, which cannoned off the post and into his path.

The former South Park man got in front of his marker to register his first goal for Burgess Hill, which set up a nervy final few minutes.

Despite a late onslaught, Grays saw the game out to seal the win, just as the Hillians did at Needham Market in their opening fixture.

Grays looked a major step up in class from the opening two games they have played so far in this division.

They are a side with a good pedigree in the non-league having played Conference footballjust five seasons ago.

Regardless of the result ,though, it has been a satisfactory start to life in the Ryman Premier for Burgess Hill; six points from three games is great return in the new and unfamiliar division that is the Ryman Premier.

Burgess Hill’s next league fixture sees them travel to Enfield Town on Saturday.

They then host Harrow Borough in another league clash on Wednesday as they will look to bounce back.

HILLIANS: James, Pointing, Fisk, Budd (Smith 67), Pearson, Keehan, Kirkwood (Pearse 41), Fraser (Branford 67), P.Harding, Jones, L.Harding

UNUSED SUBS: Saunders, Johnson.

GRAYS ATHLETIC: Johnson, Ifill, Siva, Cronin, Leader, Stevens, Fortnam-Tomlinson (Reynolds 82), Beaney, Dumaka, Ferguson, Carlos (Michael-Persil 76).

UNUSED SUBS: Bentley, Cummngs, Little.

Attdendance: 458