Despite a fantastic performance and some excellent football Burgess Hill Town had to settle for a point on the road at Merstham as the Moatsiders struck a 94th minute equaliser to share the points.

Hillians included Stefan Vukoje in their starting line up as the forward joins the Hillians on dual registration from National League South side Eastbourne Borough.

The visitors started very brightly and there were calls for a penalty just 6 minutes in. A back pass deceives Merstham keeper Rob Tolfrey, Brewer nips in, and Tolfrey brings him down but the referee gives nothing much to the surprise of most.

Three minutes later and the Hill should have been ahead as there was chaos in the hosts box. 4 shots blocked on the line by the most extraordinary Merstham defending with Ben Pope (twice) Ryan Worrall and Nathan Cooper all being denied.

Despite this the Hillians took the lead they deserved on 14 minutes. Great work from Stefan Vukoje and Kieran Rowe, sees the ball smashed across goal from the right for Alex Brewer to divert the ball in.

Brewer nearly added a second soon after as he headed just wide from a cross. Then Joe Overy drives at the backline, finds Vukoje who cuts inside and fires just over.

Vukoje was very lively on his debut. He breezes down the right and crosses for Brewer who gets his head to it again but it drifts just wide.

Slav Huk in the Hill goal was a spectator for a lot of the first half but he was called into action to save at his near post on 42 minutes.

Just before half time Brewer and Rowe kept winning the ball high, Brewer drives at the backline but smacks one at the experienced Tolfrey as the Hillians went in 1-0 up at half time after a very dominant first half performance.

The Hillians carried on where they left off after half time and it took just a minute for the skipper to double Hillians lead. Brewer was superb again, winning the ball high, beating his man and cutting it back for Brannon O’Neill to strike home.

Hill went close again on 57 minutes as defender Cooper met a corner and it’s off the underside of the bar and scrambled away.

The visitors got themselves back into the game on 62 minutes when a great move by the hosts, ends with a cross from the right clipped to the far post and in flies Aaron Jenkins to head home from a few yards.

Burgess Hill were given an indirect free kick from a back pass 8 yards out which is blocked and then a cracking last ditch tackle thwarts Rowe before Pope curls just wide as the Hillians went in search of a third.

In the 5th minute of added time, Merstham won a corner, get the first header and scramble it home through Matt Drage to give the hosts a point and deny the Hillians a deserved three.

Despite only taking a point the Hillians will take a lot of positives from the performance and hopefully take that in to Tuesdays game with Margate.

Hill: Slav Huk, Hamish Morrison, Bobby Price, Brannon O’Neill, Nathan Cooper, Ryan Worrall, Stefan Vukoje, Kieran Rowe, Alex Brewer (Ollie Davies 77), Brannon O’Neill, Joe Overy. Subs not used: Elliott Bresciani, Lewis Taylor, Harry Lawson, Reggie Ward.