A late penalty converted by Martyn Box saw Burgess Hill Town exact their revenge over Horndean on their first ever visit to Burgess Hill.

The Hillians good start to 2024 continued with this 1-0 win for Gary Mansell’s men as they climbed up to 9th in the table. The two teams were both high in the form table with the Hillians going into the game in 5th place whilst the Deans were just behind in 6th. 

Mansell made three changes to the midweek win over Beckenham Town with skipper Marcus Allen, Noah Hoffman and Nic D’Arienzo coming in for Owen Spicer, Darren Budd and Marcel Powell who had picked up a knock in the midweek win.

Cameron Scott in goal the visitors made a number of good saves when the two teams met back in October and he continued where he left off when he denied Reece Hallard with a superb reflex save and down at the other end Horndean created an excellent chance which result in another good save, the time by Hillians keeper Toby Bull, and the ball was cleared by D’Arienzo.

The Deans then had three attempts on goal in the one move, two of them blocked and third went high and wide and the Hill quickly responded with Ward whipping in a delightful ball but Hallard headed wide. 

Ten minutes before half time the Hillians were denied by the woodwork as an excellent worked move from a free kick saw Rowe and Hallard set up Box who smashed it against the woodwork and the rebound hit Dan Perry but went wide.

On the stroke of halftime Hoffman was denied as his looping header looked to be going in until the backtracking Scott managed to just claw it away as the sides went into the break even.

A mix up at the back almost let the Deans in early in the second half but the visitors failed to capitalise. 

The Hillians hit the post for the second time in the game in the 63rd minute when Box sent a brilliant corner which was headed onto the woodwork by Hallard. 

Chances were few and far in the second half but the winner came in the 88th minute when the referee awarded a penalty following a foul on Harry Lawson, and Box stepped up cool as you like to score. 

The Hillians comfortably saw out the remaining time to win and keep a clean sheet for the second successive game to send the Hillians supporters home with smiles on their faces.

(pic by Bobby Rumble)