Ben Pope and Alex Brewer both got on the scoresheet as Burgess Hill Town progressed through to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a 2-0 win over Southall.

It was Pope’s first goal of the season and a contender for goal of the season in an excellent display from the forward whilst young striker Brewer doubled the lead with his third goal of the season.

With a busy schedule of league and cup games joint managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett made seven changes with Reggie Ward, Lewis Taylor, Elliott Bresciani, Alex Brewer, Brannon O’Neill, Ollie Davies and Marcel Powell coming into the side.

Powell rejoined the Hillians in the week after returning to the HomeCall Carpets Community Stadium after moving to Southern League side Hungerford Town in the summer. He was also registered at Hayes & Yeading but had his registrations cancelled in the week to return to the Hill.

Hill got off to the perfect start as Southall’s goalkeeper Kojusoluwa Abayomi cleared it straight to Ben Pope on the halfway line and he hits it perfectly first time on the half volley and the ball flew into the net.

The hosts tried to respond and on 13 minutes some lovely play down the left sees them cut back inside and aim for the far corner, a crucial deflection sees it off for a corner which was comfortably dealt with.

Southall thought they had equalised from another corner but the linesman was quick to raise his flag and then straight down the other end O’Neill leads a Hill counter attack and slips in Davies who bears down on goal but smashes wide.

Hill keeper Slav Huk comfortably saved a 20 yard effort from as the hosts attempted to get level.

On 26 minutes the Hillians made it 2-0 with a superbly worked goal. Pope keeps the ball alive and then beats his man and fires it across for the onrushing Brewer to slam home from 12 yards.

Player / assistant manager Lewis Taylor then pulled up with an injury and last weeks FA Cup goalscoring hero Nathan Cooper entered the action.

The hosts, who went into the game full of confidence following the midweek 4-0 win over Lancing, tried to pull a goal back before half time but the Hillians held strong. A cross in from the left see’s an unmarked man heads it well over when he should have hit target and then from a long throw they fire well over the bar.

It could have been three for the Hillians on the stroke of half time as a free flowing passing move cuts the hosts apart. Davies bombs down the left, he pulls it for Brewer whose shot is blocked before Pope fires at the GK.

Hill were forced into another defensive change at half time as Alex Malins came on for Elliot Bresciani who picked up a knock.

It was nearly game over on 56 minutes as the Hillians counter attack. Kieran Rowe, who was making his 100th appearance for the Club, starts it and Powell flies down the right, he crosses perfectly for Brewer but he volleyed just wide.

Southall threatened to get back into the game but they fired over from 25 yards. Straight down the other end, Pope goes clean through but can’t double his tally.

O’Neil struck a superb free kick up and over the wall but the hosts goalkeeper made an excellent save and then Pope is unmarked from a corner but bullets his header wide as Hill tried to kill the game off.

It was Pope’s last action of the afternoon as he was withdrawn for Harry Lawson. An excellent performance from the forward who was deservedly man of the match.

With 9 minutes remaining Malins superbly headed one off the line to deny the hosts a grandstand finish.

The last chance of the game fell to the Hill with sub Hamish Morrison close to wrapping it up. A deflected Rowe strike falls to him but he can’t convert but it mattered not as the whistle went and the Hill progressed.

The Hillians now turn their attention to Tuesday nights League fixture with Lancing and can look forward to finding out who we will face in the next round of the FA Trophy on Monday.

Hillians: Slav Huk, Bobby Price, Reggie Ward, Lewis Taylor (Nathan Cooper 31), Elliott Bresciani (Alex Malins 46), Brannon O’Neill, Ollie Davies, Kieran Rowe, Alex Brewer (Hamish Morrison 73), Ben Pope (Harry Lawson 64), Marcel Powell (Ryan Worrall 81).