First Team
Isthmian League South East Division Sat 1 February The Home Call Carpets Community Stadium
Burgess Hill Town
  • Pope (26')
1
Erith Town
0
1-0

Ben Pope scored the only goal as the Hillian’s run of unbeaten games increases to nine

On a cold and muddy Saturday afternoon, Erith Town travelled down to the Homecall Carpets Community Stadium to try and gain three points which the Hillians took from them just a few weeks ago.

There were two changes to the side that won in midweek, with Ben Pope and Martyn Box coming in to replace Dan Perry and Stefan Vukoje.

The game had a slow start, but Hill had the majority of the possession and struggled to create any clear-cut chances. That was until the 25th minute, when we opened the scoring similarly to how we did in the reverse fixture in January. Martyn Box delivered a corner to the back post where Ben Pope scored with a bullet header into the top left corner.

Just a few minutes later, Chris Whelpdale missed a great chance to double the lead, heading wide from Box’s cross. Erith went up the other end and threatened for the first time in the game, as they had a few corners which caused the Hill defence some trouble, one of which needed a goal line clearance.

The Hillians dominated the rest of the half and should have doubled the lead in the 39th minute, when Box got on the end of a Whelpdale cross and missed the target from very close range. Just before half time, Erith goalkeeper Nathan Edwards made a big save, reaching far to stop Ollie Davies’ toe poked effort from finding the bottom corner.  

The second half started similarly to how the first half did, with neither team creating any real chances until the hour mark, when Erith’s Andrew Dythe cut in from the right hand side and had his curling effort saved by Slav Huk. Huk was forced into another save shortly after as he got down to tip Bradley Ryan’s shot from the edge of the box round the post.

Hill had a penalty shout in the 74th minute, when Box played a ball in behind to Kieran Rowe who took it round Edwards, who brought the Hill midfielder down. The referee blew for a free kick to the visitors for simulation, much to the dismay of the home supporters and players. Erith had a penalty shout of their own as the ball ricocheted onto a Hillian arm, but the referee didn’t award that either.

The Hillians had an opportunity to put the game to bed at the end when Box, who created many great chances throughout the game, got past his man on the wing and put a cross into Joe Overy, who sat his defender down but fired his shot straight at Edwards.

Shortly after, the final whistle blew, and the Hill secured another three points to keep our fine run of form going and secure our third place in the league table.

Match sponsors Sussex Massage Therapy voted for goalscorer Ben Pope as their Brickworks Player of the Match in front of an excellent crowd of 553.

Hill: Slav Huk, Reggie Ward, Hamish Morrison, Harry Lawson, Ryan Worrall, Marcus Allen, Ollie Davies (Joe Overy 69), Kieran Rowe, Ben Pope (Dan Perry 87), Chris Whelpdale (Brannon O’Neill 82), Martyn Box. Subs not used: Nathan Cooper and Alex Malins.

Brickworks Player of the Match: Ben Pope

Match report by: Adam Donlevy