VIDEO: Entertaining derby win

Burgess Hill 4 Worthing 1

by Chris Francis

With the stormy weather decimating the holiday football programme, many local fans must have been delighted Boxing Day’s match was given the go-ahead.

And while the result must have left the Rebels hardly feeling in the festive spirit, they played a full part in an entertaining game that could surely have disappointed no-one in the crowd of 362.

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Hillians scored some good goals and were worthy winners but the visitors showed to new manager Adam Hinshelwood that he inherits plenty to work with.

The former assistant to Ian Chapman at Leylands Park kept a low profile on his return, only being introduced to the players before kick-off. But no doubt he will be leading from the front from now on.

It was Hillians who threatened in the opening minutes through a dangerous Curtis Gayler corner and a Greg Luer cross that eluded everyone.

But then Worthing seized the initiative as Kieran Pamment headed over a good chance and Gavin Gordon had an angled shot saved at the near post by the legs of keeper Alan Mansfield.

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That set the tone of the derby, with play ebbing and flowing before Hillians struck twice in a minute to leave the Rebels facing an uphill battle.

On 33 minutes the hosts fashioned an excellent break that featured a fine ball by Scott Kirkwood before Greg Luer’s low cross was turned in at close range by hat-trick hero Pat Harding.

Almost immediately the visitors gave away possession and Harding played in Kirkwood to finish with a low shot inside the far post.

After the break Hill took only 17 minutes to go close on two occasions and then double their lead to leave no way back.

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Gayler had a fierce shot cleared off the line by Brannon O’Neill and Harding thought his effort was over the line before being cleared.

But any disappointment was was soon forgotten as a superb ball by Kirkwood released Darren Budd on the left and his low cross set up Harding for another close range tap-in.

Eight minutes later right back Neil Watts was given a second chance to cross and Harding got up in front of his marker to complete his second hat-trick of the season with a looping header.

Harding immediately made way for Miller, who burst through on several occasions but could never quite have the last word on Jack Fagan. Even when he did round the young keeper, a goalline clearance denied.

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In addition, Miller also set up Gayler and Danny Curd for chances. Gayler sliced horribly wide, while Curd was inches away from finishing a move he had started from the back.

Jacob Peake was a positive influence going forward when he came on for Worthing early in the second half and was prominent before ex-Hillian Will Berry produced a Harding-esque close range finish for a deserved consolation goal for the visitors on 69 minutes.

Hill: Mansfield; Watts, Curd, Denyer, Slaughter (Tuck, 72); Kirkwood, Budd (Armstrong, 75), Keehan; Gayler, Luer, Harding (Miller, 62).