A late Nathan Cooper header deep into injury time sent Burgess Hill Town through to the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup and the team, officials and supporters can eagerly await Mondays draw.

Hillians had a massive chance early on as Dan Perry robs the Croydon defence and lays it off to Martyn Box who from 15 yards out, couldn’t  find the target.

It was a very even opening, a half chance fell for Hill as Hamish Morrison swings one in and Perry gets infront of his man but nods just over.

The game had very few chances in the first half but it was the visitors who struck first on 42 minutes as one small mis-control at the back falls for Omilabu who takes a shot and leathers past a helpless Slav Huk.

Hill were forced into a change at the break as skipper Ryan Worrall had picked up a knock and was replaced by Ollie Davies.

On 48 minutes the Hill had a chance as Alex Malins keeps a free kick alive and nods down to Ben Pope who heads straight at Amadou Tangara.

The Hill were celebrating a few moments later as Perry equalised for the Hillians. A Hillian chips the ball over the backline, Tangara comes out and misses it, gets back and claws it onto the post, he ends up in the net and Perry is lurking to diving head the equaliser in.

Things got worse for the visitors as they were reduced to ten men on 66 minutes. Mekhi Savage goes flying into a loose ball, catches Harry Lawson late and the ref is in the perfect position and doesn’t hesitate to brandish a red card.

The ten men went close to re-taking the lead as the dangerous Brandon Pierrick has a shot for Croydon which flies wide. At the other end their was a game of head tennis going on in the Croydon box. From a corner Reggie Ward heads to Perry whose header is well tipped over by Tangara.

Hill looked dangerous from corners but hadn’t managed to get one so far. A flick on loops over everyone but also the bar as well. Then Perry sees his first shot blocked and it comes back to him, he chips the GK but it just goes over the bar before he was replaced by Alex Brewer.

Hillians nearly nicked the lead on 87 minutes as a massive scramble in the box, numerous shots, numerous blocks but nothing going in. Then Pope smashes one across the face of goal and Brewer cannot stretch enough to force it home.

In injury time a bouncing ball which Pope and Tangara both go for ends up with Pope catching Amadou high. After a lengthy spell Tangara was stretchered off to a round of applause from all corners of the ground.

The Hillians won it deep into injury time to avoid a replay on Tuesday night as sub Brannon O’Neill sent an excellent delivery in for defender Nathan Cooper to powerfully head home and send Hill through to the next round in front of an excellent crowd of 415.

News the next morning came that Tangara was released from hospital on Saturday night and was recovering well at home. Everyone at BHTFC wishes him a speedy recovery.