Burgess Hill Town FC travelled to league leaders Ramsgate on Saturday and despite leaving Kent on the wrong side of a 4-2 defeat Gary Mansell will take a lot of positives from his young side as they dominated the first 35 minutes and gave the hosts a real scare.

It was always going to be a tough assignment in Kent as Ramsgate are riding high at the top of the league and going into the match had won all 10 of their home league games. They also included in their line up the league’s leading goalscorer with Joe Taylor already hitting 22 league goals and were backed by another large crowd with 1034 attending the game.

Hillians Manager Mansell was forced into a change in the goalkeeping department as Taylor Seymour was away so former Brighton & Hove Albion, Worthing and Merstham goalkeeper Toby Bull, who signed in the week, took over in goal. Harry Lawson came in for Darren Budd in the only other change from last week’s league win over East Grinstead Town.

The Hillians started well in the cold and on six minutes Hill top scorer Dan Perry found a yard but his shot was deflected wide and the corner came to nothing. Hill gained another corner soon after as Marcel Powell whipped a ball into Reece Hallard who’s header was deflected out.

Ramsgate keeper Tom Hadler denied Hillians an opener on 23 minutes as a mix up at the back saw Noah Hoffman pounce and he laid it off to Perry but his effort was superbly tipped over by Hadler.

Perry was able to celebrate soon after as he netted his 12th of the campaign when a good ball over the top was brilliantly chested down by the forward and he lobbed it over Hadler with a fantastic finish.

The lead was doubled just two minutes later when skipper Kieran Rowe picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward at the Ramsgate backline where he skipped past everyone before rolling it cooly past Hadler for his first goal of the season.

View Rowe’s Goal Here

Ramsgate pulled one back on 36 minutes as they began to get into the game as Craig Stone converted a corner and Taylor thought he had made it 2-2 soon after but the referee disallowed his effort. The Rams did level though just before half time as Taylor did well to set up Medy Elito who tapped home to send the sides in all square at the break.

The Rams had an early chance fly over but on 51 minutes there was a controversial moment when Rowe crossed for Perry who tapped home but the linesman raised his flag. 

The hosts took the lead for the first time on 55 minutes when the excellent Taylor held the ball up well and layed it off superbly for Bode Anidugbe to smash the ball past Bull.

The young Hillians continued to battle hard to get level but the Rams stepped it up a gear and Taylor smashed an effort inches wide and soon after a corner was cleared following an almighty scramble. 

On 79 minutes Perry had a chance but the ball just wouldn’t sit down in time and his shot was well blocked and with 5 minutes remaining the hosts sealed the victory Tijan Jadama scored to wrap up the points. 

Bull made two good saves in the final stages to deny the Rams a 5th and Owen Spicer saw a long range effort comfortably saved by Hadler as the Rams made it 11 wins out of 11 at home this season but the Hillians can take away a lot of positives from the game knowing that they gave the league leaders an almighty scare.

Pictures and video by Colin Bowman