Despite an excellent first half that saw the Hillians leading at the break, a very disappointing second half saw the Hillians go down 3-1 away at Merstham.

Manager Gary Mansell gave first starts for Jay Beckford and the returning George Brown after both signed for the Hill from Eastbourne Borough.

The Hillians and Beckford in particular started brightly. He breezed past the left back on four minutes and crossed for Reece Hallard who smashed it wide and two minutes later the pacy Beckford flew past his man again and found Kieran Rowe but Endurance Johnson made an excellent save.

On 13 minutes it was Beckford having a chance as he danced past a couple of defenders but hit his effort just over the bar.

Merstham livened up and put some pressure on the Hill as a scramble in the Hillians box nearly resulted in an opportunity but the ball was cleared from danger and minutes later Finn Holter made a good low save from a long range effort and then the ball was cleared off the line soon after that in another scramble.

Despite the few minutes of pressure it was the Hill who took the lead through Rowe. Conrad Honore burst down the right, he pulls it back for Rowe who takes a touch, shimmies past his man and curls it into the top corner.

A minute later and it could have been two as a ball lands nicely for Dan Perry who turns and smashes it first time but it was deflected away for a corner. Perry had another attempt from Reggie Ward’s cross as Hill now applied the pressure and looked for a second.

Hallard nearly did double the lead as he burst through one on one and had two attempts but Johnson was equal to both as the Hillians went in at the break deservedly leading.

The second half was a completely different matter though as the hosts found an equaliser nine minutes as Korrey Henry slotted past Holter.

Merstham were on top and applying the pressure and on 64 minutes they had turned it around as Henry got his second of the night with a simple finish.

Henry completed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining as he headed home a corner and the night got worse for the Hillians as Honore was sent off a minutes later.

The hosts had the ball in the net again but luckily for the Hill the linesman flag was raised. They fired wide with two minutes remaining as the Hillians disappointing second half saw them leave empty handed from Surrey.