First Team
Isthmian League South East Division Sat 4 December The Home Call Carpets Community Stadium
Burgess Hill Town
0
Corinthian
  • Mahoney (18')
  • Housego (85')
2
0-2

The mood was as good as it has been in a long time prior to kick off at the More Than Tyres Stadium, as an impressive month of November saw the Hill go unbeaten in the league, only conceding twice in that time. It was the Hill who had the first chance of the game, as Max Miller broke down the right and his over hit cross almost ended up catching out Aiden Prall, but the ball flicked off the top of the crossbar, much to his relief. The visitors thought they’d opened the scoring in the 7th minute when they nodded home from a corner but the referee saw an infringement and the Hillians were let off the hook. Michael Campbell had a good opportunity in a lively opening 10 minutes, but his goal bound effort from distance was brilliantly blocked by a Hoop. The best chance of the opening 15 minutes fell to the visitors. Some sloppy play from the Hill let Jack Mahoney have a clear sight of goal, his effort took a wicked deflection, but Taylor Seymour produced a fine save at full stretch to tip it around the post. In the 18th minute, the Hoops took the lead. It was all too easy as a big switch out to the left was expertly controlled by Frankie Morgan who cut inside and delivered a testing cross which was bundled in by an unmarked Jack Mahoney at the far post. That opening goal looked to spark the Hill into life offensively. A nice move down the left found its way to Michael Uwezu who cut inside and hit an effort which veered just past the post. Leon Moore was next to try and get the Hill back into the game but fired high and wide in what was a fairly lacklustre performance so far from the green and blacks. Probably the best chance for the Hill came just after 30 minutes. Dan Cadman found Max Miller on the left, his fierce shot was beaten away before Cadman got to the rebound, danced past 2 but couldn’t find the finish as the ball sailed narrowly over. Down the other end, Corinthian were looking to add to their lead, an Oscar Housego free kick fell to Becka-Kah Dembele and his smart shot on the volley once again forced Seymour into a good diving save. From the resulting corner, the Hill fell asleep to a short corner, Oscar Housego burst into the box but blazed over when he really should have hit the target. All the pressure towards the end of the half was from the Hoops, Harry Cashley whipped a wicked cross into the middle where a Corinthian attacker flung himself at it but somehow missed the ball. The best chance to double the vistors’ lead came on the stroke of half time. A misplaced Spinks header was flicked on by Josh James into the path of an unmarked Cashley, but he completely butchered his finish from 10 yards, scuffing it and sending it dribbling wide.

HT: 0-1.

Lewis Taylor was introduced by Jay Lovett at half time, missing the last 2 games through illness, and immediately tried to give us a boost as he fired an early shot straight at Prall. A good start to the second half for the Hill continued when a lovely Max Miller ball out wide found Michael Campbell, he cut inside and his strike on goal took a little deflection which made the Aiden Prall save even more impressive. In the 62nd minute, Corinthian really should have added a second. Leon Moore lost the ball cheaply to the lively Frankie Morgan, he took aim but cracked his effort millimetres wide of Seymour’s goal. The Hill hadn’t created many clear cut chances but so nearly levelled the game up just moments later. Some fantastic work from substitute Hayden Skerry bamboozled the visitors defence and his low cross was perfect for Lewis Finney, but the latter saw his effort saved by Prall, cleared off the line and then grabbed again by Prall – so, so unlucky. Another good run down the left from Miller saw him tee up Skerry, but he sent his strike high and wide following a slight bobble. The Hill certainly seemed to have more of an attacking threat in the second half, as Skerry yet again tested out Prall, this time from a low free kick which the Hoops keeper did well to tip around the post. With 5 minutes to go, the Hoops put the game beyond doubt. They broke away down the left with the ball eventually being slipped inside to Oscar Housego who kept his composure to slot the ball into the corner past a helpless Seymour. The newly-promoted Kent side almost put the cherry on top of their cake when Jack Mahoney drove forward and hit a dipping effort which flew inches over. Michael Uwezu and Josh Spinks both saw half chances come and go as the game drew to a close, marking the end of a miserable afternoon for the Hillians.

FT: 0-2.

An afternoon to forget for Jay Lovett’s men, as a well-organised Corinthian side fully deserved all three points.

Next up, it doesn’t get any easier as we welcome high-flying Ashford United to the More Than Tyres Stadium next Saturday.