Burgess Hill Town moved into the top half of the table with a 4-0 victory over Beckenham Town to send the good number of Hillians travelling fans home entertained and happy.

With Jack Taylor being recalled from his loan spell Gary Mansell gave a debut to defender Olly Hamstead who signed in the week from Isthmian Premier side Kingstonian.

It was an end to end opening few minutes with Toby Bull making a good save whilst at the other end Hillians thought they had opened the scoring when Marcel Powell’s cross was dropped by home keeper Nick Blue and the ball was cleared off the line. There were question marks whether it had crossed the line but that was all in vain as the referee gave a free kick for a foul on the keeper.

Blue then made a good save as Owen Spicer found Harry Lawson in a yard of space and he ran towards goal and sent a shot from 25 yards which Blue was equal to.

The Hillians did take the lead on 13 minutes through top scorer Dan Perry when he brilliantly headed home Kieran Rowe’s cross from the right. 

It was nearly two soon after as Reggie Ward capitalised on a defensive error, he beat Blue to the loose ball but couldn’t get the ball out of his feet in time before being able to slot home. Another error resulted in Reece Hallard being able to get an effort in but his powerful low shot was well saved and at the other end Beckenham prodded an effort wide from a corner.

Hillians midfielder Darren Budd nearly doubled the Hillians lead when his header from Powell’s excellent delivery was deflected but didn’t quite sneak into the back of the net.

The hosts then enjoyed a spell as the Hillians appeared to take their foot off the gas towards the end of the half but Bull made a good save to keep the scores level and the Hill did have a good break when Rowe slipped in Hallard but Blue tipped his effort over as the Hillians went in at the break ahead.

Bull made a good save in the first minute of the second half and soon after Powell saw his effort go over. Lawson had another effort from distance fly narrowly over but the 17 year old was celebrating his first senior goal moments later.

Martyn Box’s corner was cleared off the line after beating Blue and Lawson was on hand to stab the ball home from close range to double the lead.

It was another 17 year old and product of the Under 18’s team who got the third goal as Hallard got in down the right and his effort was only cleared as far as sub Noah Hoffman who smashed it home for his third goal of the season. 

There was more good news for the Hillians as defenders Nic D’Arienzo and skipper Marcus Allen both made returns from injury either side of the third goal and on 90 minutes the scoring was completed as the Hillians added a fourth.
Hoffman did brilliantly well to win the ball back and find Rowe who for the second time assisted Perry when he squared for the striker who rounded the keeper and slotted home for his 14th goal of the season. 

It capped an excellent evening for the Hillians who went ahead of Ashford into 10th place and Mansell and his management team will now be looking ahead to Saturday when we entertain Horndean.