Burgess Hill Town kicked off the 2024/25 season with victory in the Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary round on Friday night.
The Hillians made the journey to Middlesex and rewarded the Hill faithful with a 1-0 courtesy of Alex Brewer’s acrobatic 35th minute finish.
Joint Managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett will be pleased their new look side navigated their way through despite being without defenders Bobby Price, Alex Malins and player/assistant Lewis Taylor and suffered losing Martyn Box to a first half injury.
The first real chance of the game fell to the visiting Hillians as Box bombed down the left and eventually found Hamish Morrison who swung in a cross that returning striker Ben Pope headed just wide.
The hosts from the Combined Counties League were more than holding their own. They break down the left and it almost falls to a home player but Hill scramble it to safely. Soon after they struck one over before Box went off injured and replaced by Harry Lawson.
The Hillians took the lead on 35 minutes in brilliant style. Morrison played a brilliant 1-2 with Ollie Davies and chips it in where Brewer waits to overhead kick it into the net for his first senior FA Cup goal.
Hill ended the half on top, a corner is cleared to Brannon O’Neill who thunders one over as the Hillians went in at the break ahead.
Davies had a chance to extend the Hillians lead on 57 minutes as he gets in behind but can’t beat the GK who makes a good save. Soon after Morrison gets in behind and looks to square it for a Hillian but no one can convert as chances were falling Hill’s way.
At the other end Spelthorne launched a long free kick which is flicked back and then put onto the roof of the net.
Goalscorer Brewer was replaced by Callum Chesworth for his debut on 67 minutes and two minutes later Hill win a free kick in a good position but O’Neill curls just wide.
On 71 minutes the hosts, who have a deadly long throw, see’s it almost goes in after a flick on but drops the right side of the post for Hill.
Pope who worked tirelessly throughout was replaced by Joe Overy whilst Tom Chalaye forced the Spelly GK into a great save.
Debutant keeper Slav Huk made an excellent save in the final few minutes to keep a clean sheet and see the Hillians through to next round when a cross to the far post is controlled and the effort looks like it’s going to be an equaliser until Huk made a superb save.
The final whistle went and the Hillians supporters went home happy after seeing their side progress to face either Eastbourne Town or Little Common on Saturday 17th August in the next round at the HomeCall Carpets Community Stadium.
Hillians: Slav Huk, Hamish Morrison, Martyn Box (Harry Lawson 30), Brannon O’Neill, Elliott Bresciani, Ryan Worrall, Ollie Davies, Kieran Rowe, Alex Brewer (Callum Chesworth 67), Ben Pope (Joe Overy 78), Tom Chalaye (Dan Perry 79). Subs not used: Charlie Bonwick-Adams.
