Two first half strikes by Joe Overy saw Burgess Hill Town beat Three Bridges on Boxing Day at the first game on their new 3G pitch.

The Hillians had the ball in the net after only 8 minutes as Hill scored from a corner but ex-Hill stopper Luke Glover got bailed out as the referee blew for a soft free kick.

Four minutes later Nathan Cooper hit the bar from 35 yards with a long range effort as the Hillians pressed for the opener.

At the other end ex-Hill forward Reece Hallard had Bridges first effort but his shot was comfortably saved by Slav Huk but two minutes later it was the Hillians who took a deserved lead.

Bridges lose it high up the pitch to Cooper, Ben Pope nips in, it falls to Brannon O’Neill whose shot is blocked but in comes to Overy who tucks home for the first goal on Three Bridges new 3G pitch.

On 25 minutes it was two and two for Overy. A superb pass from Kieran Rowe plays Overy in, he takes one touch to cut inside and his second whips it into the bottom corner.

Overy could have had a hat-trick when the Hill countered and he was away, he ran the whole length of the pitch and fires one which Glover saved but the referee gave a goal kick.

Hill continued to press and create changes. O’Neill had a shot blocked, Stefan Vukoje had one cleared off the line by Harvey Woolard before Bridges break and Slav Huk makes a great save.

Bridges were reduced to ten men on 36 minutes as Hayden Neathey, on his debut, saw red. He was the last man as Pope nips in, Neathey brings him down and it’s a clear red for the CB.

Bobby Price headed just wide minutes before half time as the Hillians went in at the break leading comfortably 2-0.

Vukoje was played in from a lovely flick from Pope on 52 minutes but he smashed his shot into the side netting.

On 69 minutes the Hillians made a double change with O’Neill and Vukoje being replaced by Tom Chalaye and Martyn Box – back from injury after five month absence.

Minutes later Chalaye forced Glover into a great save, from the corner, remarkably Bridges clear Pope and Price’s shot off the line as Hill attempted to wrap the game up.

On 83 minutes it was almost a 3rd for Hill but the lively Chalaye has his effort deflected just wide. Down the other end, Bridges break but fire wide of the goal.

Sub Dan Perry pounces but it’s a great last ditch tackle to thwart him after Bridges had lost the ball in the area before they halved the deficit in injury time as Billy Irving smashed a beautiful volley in from a corner.

Hillians saw the game out as Overy’s brace saw the Hillians get the three points and claim the first win on Three Bridges new 3G pitch.

Hill: Slav Huk, Hamish Morrison, Bobby Price (Reggie Ward 74), Brannon O’Neill (Martyn Box 69), Nathan Cooper (Alex Malins 89), Marcus Allen, Stefan Vukoje (Tom Chalaye 69), Kieran Rowe, Ben Pope (Dan Perry 78), Harry Lawson, Joe Overy.