Whelpdale hat-trick gives Burgess Hill Town FA Cup win over Jersey Bulls
Burgess Hill Town have reached the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
The Hillians saw off plucky Jersey Bulls at the second attempt – or third if you include last Tuesday’s planned replay, called off when the visitors could not fly over – with a 3-1 win on Tuesday night.
Chris Whelpdale was the man of the moment with a hat-trick to take his season’s tally to eight in nine games.
The victory followed the 0-0 draw in the initial game on September 5 and puts Gary Mansell’s team through to visit Hanwell Town in this Saturday’s next round.
Hanwell, based in West London, play in the Southern League Premier South, the same step of non-league as Hill, but sit in the bottom four after a slow start.
In Tuesday’s replay, Whelpdale scored in the seventh and 23rd minutes to put Hill in charge. Jersey got one back early in the second half but Whelpdale wrapped it up in the 89th minute.
Meanwhile, Burgess Hill – who drew 2-2 with Ramsgate in the league on Saturday – will play Winslow United in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, September 26.