Burgess Hill were scarred at Culver Road last season as a dubious late penalty gave the Lancers all 3 points but the Hillians righted those wrongs down by the sea but boy oh boy do they make it difficult for themselves….

The match was preceded by an impeccably observed and poignant 2 minute silence to remember those brave fallen soldiers on the eve of Remembrance Sunday, however Burgess Hill decided to remain silent and flat for about the opening half hour. It took the hosts just 7 minutes to open the scoring, a flurry of corners was won by the home side and the final set piece caught the Hill back line napping, how anyone could miss the giant figure of Lancing Captain, CB and No5, Tom Butler free at the far post, is quite beyond you or me. Alas, free he was to tap home the opener to make a tough game that little bit tougher. During the set piece melee, the other Lancing CB, Marcus Allen, seemed to sustain a serious looking knee injury and had to be stretchered off after a lengthy delay. We wish him a speedy recovery. The delay didn’t wake Hill up or knock the Yellows out of their stride, Tommy Reid was called into action, fielding a long range effort quite comfortably in the end. It took the Hill 23 minutes to muster a chance but it really should’ve been taken. Hayden Skerry crossed the ball in from the right and there were 3 Hillians queuing up. Sam Remfry was in the middle of those 3, unmarked from 6 yards but he inexplicably missed the target. The Hill were slowly starting to show signs of life after a sluggish start and in the 33rd minute, Hitman Dan won us a penalty out of nothing. There seemed to very little danger when a Lancing defender had the ball in his own box but he dawdled on it for too long and Hitman Dan smelt the danger, closing the man down, getting a toe to the ball first and the Lancing man kicked him when trying to clear the ball for a stone wall penalty. Lancing legend Lewis Finney stepped up but Alieu Secka made the save before Hayden Skerry slapped the rebound into the waiting arms of Secka who was still on the ground. Oh dear. If that double miss stung the Hill, less than 2 minutes later they would find themselves 2 goals down. It was all very easy for the hosts, a long punt downfield by Secka was flicked on and it fell to Tyrone Madhani. He was given time and space to drive before then firing a brilliant finish off the inside of the far post and into the net. Sigh. Sigh. Sigh. That could’ve really knocked the stuffing out of Hill but those heads did not drop and what happened over the next 10 minutes would’ve absolutely delighted Jay Lovett. Just 2 minutes after conceding again, Dan Perry slammed the ball into the Lancing net to hit double figures for the season. It was very scrappy (that will be a reoccurring theme) but we do not care. Hayden Skerry wriggled his way into the box and had a couple of bites at the cherry, all thwarted by a combination of blocks by defenders and Alieu Secka but the ball eventually broke free of everyone and fell perfectly for Hitman Dan to halve the arrears. Before anyone had the chance to even sing about Dan Perry and scoring goals, Hayden Skerry decided to equalise just seconds later. Lewis Finney fired an effort on goal which was palmed out not very convincingly by Secka and it fell to Hayden Skerry who controlled his half volleyed rebound and beat the man on the line to silence the almost silent home crowd and cause carnage and mayhem behind that goal as the travelling Hillians didn’t know wether to scream in anger at the first 35 minutes or jump for joy at the perfect last 2. You thought it couldn’t get more chaotic? Oh well take a seat. TEN minutes were added on due to the injury to Marcus Allen and the Hillians capitalised. Once again Alieu Secka forgot he could catch the ball as a Hayden Skerry long ranger was spilled and Lewis Finney reacted rapidly to tap the ball over the goalline and celebrate with the masses of travelling Hillians. Everyone. Breath.

HT: 2-3.

Unsurprisingly, the mayhem of the first half wasn’t quite met to the same standard in the second half, which was probably best for everyone’s heart rate. You got the feeling Hill needed a fourth just to give them some breathing space and Hayden Skerry tried to do this but he fired an effort across the goal and wide of the far post. Lancing won a free kick right on the edge of the box which spelled danger for Hill but Tommy Reid was equal to it as the Lancers started to press. The game started to open up and Hill almost finished the game off. Dan Perry burst down the left and crossed for substitute Charlie Kelly but it was a fraction to high and CK nodded wide. As he always does, Kelly was providing the energy and an eye for goal off the bench, he galloped down the right, cut inside but curled over from 20 yards. Rinse and repeat on the next attack. CK down the right, cutting inside but this time he dribbled his effort past the post when he could’ve hit the target. You always get one final chance and the home side did. A Lancer found himself with a free header, centre of the goal but he plonked it straight at Tommy Reid, the FT whistle went and the odd bunch proved once again that they aim to cause Jay Lovett the maximum amount of stress possible.

FT: 2-3.

Winners win. A brilliant, spirited comeback from the Hill from 2-0 down and missing a penalty but goals from Dan Perry, Hayden Skerry and Lewis Finney on his Lancing return gets the Hill back to winning ways.

Next up, it’s Sussex Senior Cup action as we welcome Horsham YMCA to paradise on Tuesday evening – 7:30 KO.