Captain Brannon O’Neill hit a first half hat-trick as Burgess Hill Town FC completed a league double over Deal Town at the HomeCall Carpets Community Stadium on Saturday.

Reggie Ward hit the other goal as the Hillians were 4-0 up at the break and took another step to taking third place and home advantage for the play off semi final.

O’Neill returning to the starting line up was one of four changes made by managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett. Jay Beckford, Marcus Allen and Harry Lawson also returned to the starting XI.

Hill got off to the perfect start and went ahead after just 5 minutes as a ball over the top finds O’Neill who brought it down expertly, swivelled and thumped it past the keeper.

It was nearly two soon after as O’Neill whipped a corner in and it looks very much like the ball crosses the line but the linesman doesn’t give it, there’s a big scramble but no goal given.

Hill were forced into a change on 15 minutes as Allen went down injured twice and he couldn’t continue and was replaced by Nathan Cooper.

It was deservedly 2-0 on the half hour mark from a brilliant team move. Chris Whelpdale pings the ball out wide to Jay Beckford, who flicks to Reggie Ward, who beats his man beautifully, squares for O’Neill who flicks the ball around the Keeper and then smashes home his 12th league goal.

Deal were almost given a life line as the hosts lose the ball dangerously but they flash a shot wide.

Hill though went 3-0 up on 40 minutes when Martyn Box starts the press, forces them back, then O’Neill harasses three Deal players, forces them into an error and Reggie Ward thumps home from the edge of the box.

The best was yet to come though as on the stroke of half time it was 4. A cross comes in from the right by Whelpdale, O’Neill gets ahead of his man and flicks it like Zola with his backheel into the top corner for an unbelievable goal that sealed his hat-trick.

The second half started with the Hillians close to going 5 up with Whelpdale smashing one over.

Whelpdale went close again as he goes through one on one on the right of the box and goes to dink it over the GK, does, but dinks over the goal as well.

With important games coming up Hill made changes with Joe Overy, Stefan Vukoje and Ryan Worrall all entering the action.

Hill continued to have plenty of possession and were rarely troubled as they saw the game out comfortably.

With eight minutes remaining hat-trick hero O’Neill was replaced by Ben Pope to applause from all around Leylands Park and he of course was voted as the Brickworks Man of the Match by match sponsors Switched on Insurance.

The Hillians have two tough fixtures coming up over the Easter weekend with a trip to Sittingbourne on Good Friday. Then on bank holiday Monday we are at home to Three Bridges with a 3pm kick off.

Hill: Slav Huk, Hamish Morrison, Reggie Ward, Harry Lawson (Ryan Worrall 79), Logan Dobbs, Marcus Allen (Nathan Cooper 15), Jay Beckford (Joe Overy 64), Kieran Rowe, Chris Whelpdale (Stefan Vukoje 64), Brannon O’Neill (Ben Pope 82), Martyn Box.