VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Burgess Hill lose 1-0 at Wingate and Finchley

Burgess Hill Town lost 1-0 at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday - their first loss in five games.
Pat Harding, Burgess Hill Town FC. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-150113-082335001Pat Harding, Burgess Hill Town FC. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-150113-082335001
Pat Harding, Burgess Hill Town FC. Picture by Steve Robards SUS-150113-082335001

The game was severely disrupted due to injuries to both the referee and the linesman during the first half.

Video highlights by HilliansTV

With the game just nine minutes old the linesman by the main stand, Christopher Hamilton, pulled up with a hamstring injury and the game was delayed for around 20 minutes whilst a replacement was sought.

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Luckily there was a qualified official watching and he volunteered. Amazingly enough soon after the game re-started referee, Simon Finnigan, was the next one to pull up with an injury and he had to receive treatment with severe cramp in his calf as Burgess Hill Town’s physio Danielle Peters had a busier afternoon than normal.

The delay clearly effected the rhythm of both teams and the game never really got going all afternoon and chances were few and far between.

Dan Perry had the best chance of the half when he found himself through on goal but his low shot went inches wide of the far post.

Pat Harding had an effort cleared by home keeper Bobby Smith just before half time whilst Leon Solomon had an effort for the visitors which was wide of Josh James’ goal.

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Despite having plenty of possession early in the second, the Hillians struggled to make too many goal scoring opportunities and it was the visitors who took the lead with their first real attack of the half on 68 minutes.

An excellent quick passing movement between Tommy Tejan-Sie and Ola Sogbanmu saw the latter complete the move when he tapped home from close range.

Despite huffing and puffing the Hillians could not get an equaliser against Wingate’s stubborn defence although they had an excellent chance with 18 minutes remaining when Pat Harding found space down the right and crossed to sub Phil Johnson whose shot was parried by Smith and the ball was picked up by Budd whose shot was cleared off the line and scrambled away.

Substitute Chris Smith had the last chance for Hill when he shot wide but the game clearly lost its appeal as a spectacle after the injuries to the officials in the first half had disrupted the game.

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Manager Ian Chapman said afterwards “It was a real poor game and it didn’t help with the stoppages with the linesman and referee going down injured and it stopped any tempo getting going in the game”.

“That’s not an excuse as were really poor today and we spoke about it after, we were lifeless and it’s something that we have to get over and stop doing”.

“Last season we could get away with that at times and this season we haven’t and we won’t get away with it because sides in this league are better”.

“In saying that I didn’t think there was a lot in the game, we’ve had one or two really good chances and should have scored and they’ve had the same and come out the better side of it”.

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“We are disappointed from our own point of view, as a spectacle it was rubbish and that maybe down to myself, maybe I should have freshened it up”.

“We had a hard game on Tuesday and thought about making three or four changes to freshen it up, but went with the players we went with the other day and we looked a bit lacklustre so I take that on the chin and we move on”.

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