Two goals in the three second half minutes saw Burgess Hill Town come from a goal down to beat Ashford United at the HomeCall Carpets Community Stadium.

The result see’s the Hillians move into the play-offs and into 5th in the table as Joe Overy’s superb strike saw the Hill win 2-1.

It was the visitors who threatened first as they beat the offside trap but defender Alex Malins produced a superb last ditch tackle to thwart the danger. Minutes later Gary Lockyer had the ball in the net for United but the linesman had already raised his flag for offside. 

On 17 minutes the Hillians worked the ball well down the right and after a few crosses were blocked Stefan Vukoje shot over the bar. It was even closer soon after as the Hill hit the woodwork. Bobby Price cut inside and hit a shot that struck the outside of the post and went wide.

The hosts continued to threaten as skipper Brannon O’Neill curled inches wide and then recent signing Chris Whelpdale battered his way through the Ashford defence but fired over. Vukoje saw an effort blocked on the line by player manager Danny Kedwell before Price smashed a cross across the goal and Nathan Cooper could quite reach the ball to slide it home. 

On 41 minutes both sides were reduced to 10 men when Hill’s Price and Ashford’s Preston Kedwell were both dismissed after a tussle that sparked a melee between the two sides. 

Before half time Whelpdale sent a ball across the face of the goal which Ben Pope launches himself at but it was just out of reach as the Hillians and Ashford went in at the break level.

The visitors took the lead on 53 minutes as a lovely ball see’s them in down the left and Matthew Bodkin’s effort was prodded home by Jireh George.

Hillians looked to get back into it immediately and after a scramble in the box Mitchell Beeney saved from Ollie Davies. Beeney saved Whelpdale’s 25 yard effort before Slav Huk at the other end made a good save to deny Will Moses’ low shot. 

Hillians were on level terms on 77 minutes as a cross from the left was headed into his own net by Moses under pressure from Davies and within three minutes the Hillians had turned it around. 

Davies saw his effort saved by the feet of Beeney for a corner. O’Neill’s delivery was headed out only as far as sub Joe Overy who superbly struck an effort into the net. 

Alex Brewer almost sealed the win with a third near the end but he smacks his effort inches wide but the Hillians were comfortable in the closing minutes to see out an important 2-1 win.