639 smiling faces packed themselves into Paradsie on Easter Monday for a local derby in the Isthmian League and those souls were treated to a goal of the season strike from a man affectionately known as ‘‘The Hoover’ and a late late winner from who else but Mr. Burgess Hill.

You simply cannot ask for a better start to a football match then your midfielder filling in as a rogue left wing back deciding that now would be a good time to score his greatest goal in his entire life. Dave Martin whipped a cross in from the left that was headed away, out it came to Kieran Rowe who was more than 30 yards out, one touch to flick it up and then crashbangwallop went the football, soaring through the air, caressing the underside of the crossbar and rippling the net. No one was more shocked at what he had done than Rowe himself. Simply stunning. The perfect start. Three Bridges, obviously rocked by that thunderbolt attempted to get back in the game through former Hillian U18, Tadley Bromage. GK also Andersen launched a ball downfield, the ball dropped to Bromage who caught it sweetly but his strike whistled past the post. To be perfectly honest, the rest of the first half was all a bit scrappy, with not many chances for either team. On the stroke of HT, another former Hillian Kieran Pamment should’ve levelled it up. The Hillians didn’t deal with a long ball and the visitors slipped Pamment in on the left, a touch to steady himself but the usually reliable man dragged his effort wide of Joe Southam’s goal. The last chance of the half was a Dave Martin free kick that flew just over the Bridges goal.

HT: 1-0.

You could sense what a big result this would be for both teams, Hillians needed a second and Bridges needed an equaliser. On the break that Hill looked dangerous, that man Rowe didn’t stop running, he slipped in Max Miller who cut the ball back to Perry but his first time effort was straight at Andersen. Suddenly, out of very little, the visitors hauled themselves level in controversial circumstances. A deep corner was whipped in and the ball seemed to fairly obviously go out of play, Tadley Bromage played to the whistle, kept it alive and Joe Tennent headed the ball in via a deflection. The Hill couldn’t quite believe it, but the goal stood and suddenly the mood changed around Leylands Park. The Hill went about getting that lead back straight away, Kieran Rowe found Miller who set up Lewis Taylor but the gaffers long ranger fizzed past the post. Suddenly the momentum swung back in Hill’s favour, substitute Josiah Bridgeman had an effort blocked by about 3 different Bridges defenders as the pressure was cranked up a notch. From that resulting corner, it was cleared out to Zohair Ali, he launched the ball back into the area, Andersen came to claim the ball, he missed it, it hit Nathan Daly on the back, and who, out of everyone on the pitch, did it fall to? Hitman. Dan. Perry. 30 for the season, a roar of relief, a sense of belief and Leylands Park went absolutely potty. You always get one final chance and the Hill gave away a free kick on the edge of the area, another former Hillian Curtis Gayler stepped up but he sent the ball absolutely nowhere near the goal, the referee blew his whistle and the Hillians clambered out of the drop zone.

FT: 2-1.

To have 2 games remain and to control your own destiny, is a privilege and a luxury. That’s what the Hillians have. Huge final 2 weeks inbound.

On Saturday we travel to the leagues most inform team, with Sittingbourne unbeaten in 11 but the Hillians are looking for a 3rd win of the season over the Brickies.