Burgess Hill were looking to build on their first league win of the season at Ramsgate when they travelled along the coast to take on old foes Whitehawk. The Hillians had the first chance of the evening, Michael Uwezu flicked a throw in on for Lewis Finney to run onto, his first time half volley whistled narrowly past Nathan Stroombergs post. Burgess Hill were much the sharper team in the early knockings, Jaden Perez was a stud away from getting on the end of a teasing cross. Whitehawk’s first real attempt came in the 18th minute, Omarr Lawson smashing a free kick straight at Taylor Seymour. Michael Uwezu, in fine goalscoring form, was next to come close as he worked half a yard and looked to add to his recent tally but this effort went narrowly wide. Midway through the first half, former Hawk Connor Tighe almost came back to haunt them. Max Miller did well down the right, his cross found Tighe but his effort from close range was well kept out by Stroomberg. Connor Tighe again almost broke the deadlock minutes later, he played a short corner with Lewis Finney, cut inside on his left and whipped an effort which looked destined for the top corner but cannoned back off the crossbar and away to safety. Josh Spinks got on the end of a Tighe free kick but only found the side netting as Hill searched for that elusive first goal. The best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute, Max Miller breezed past Luke Emberson and chipped a ball to Lewis Finney who’s diving header was incredibly clawed off the line by Stroomberg, Lewis Taylor got to the rebound and fired it across goal where it somehow evaded a yellow shirt. After that almighty scare, Whitehawk almost went straight down the other end and scored themselves. A long ball wasn’t dealt with by either CB, and Jauvan Splatt found himself one on one but he couldn’t beat Taylor Seymour. The Hawks were finishing the half well, Splatt layed a ball of to Henry Muggeridge and his 25 yard piledriver had Seymour flying across to his right to make the save.

HT: 0-0.

The Hawks started the second half with a purpose and almost caught the Hillians napping early on, a hopeful Lewis Unwin ball into the box found its way to Charlie Lambert but he couldn’t sort his feet out. Stephen Okoh was the next Hawk to try his luck but after beating Harry Docherty his shot went up up and away and landed in the English Channel. The Hawks were well on top in the second half but keeper Stroomberg almost undone all his hard work when he gave the ball straight to Lewis Finney 25 yards out, but he couldn’t direct his shot on target. Harry Pollard gifted the ball to Charlie Lambert moments later and the Hawks almost punished him royally, his cross was missed by Muggeridge and Okoh fired straight at Seymour. Into the last 15 minutes and it was going to take a moment of magic to beat an inspired Stroomberg. Connor Tighe tried his luck one final time cutting in and unleashing but once again, Stroomberg denied him, tipping the ball over the bar. Substitute Charlie Kelly whipped in a devilish ball in which almost found Uwezu, the loose ball dropped to Miller but Mo Kamara, quite literally put his whole body on the line to block his effort, not once but twice. The closest Hill came to nicking it came in the 83rd minute, Reggie Ward picked up a loose ball and took aim but for the umpteenth time Nathan Stroomberg somehow managed to back pedal and get a fingertip on it to send it over the bar. A mistake at the back from Hawks almost proved costly, Miller found Kelly who instead of slipping in the onrushing Lewis Taylor, took aim himself but he fired straight at the keeper. With the clock approaching 90, Whitehawk had one final chance and probably should have nicked it. A corner was floated in and somehow Mo Kamara was free as a bird in the Hillians penalty area but he headed the ball over the bar when unmarked from 10 yards.

FT: 0-0.

Jay Lovett’s men certainly the better team but couldn’t break a Nathan Stroomberg inspired Hawks team down. That being said, a point on the road in midweek is always a point gained.

Next up, we are back at home, as Sevenoaks return for successive home fixtures!