A much changed Burgess Hill Town side defeated Broadbridge Heath on penalties to progress in the Velocity Trophy

Managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett made nine changes for the second round tie and included 11 under 18’s in the 16 man squad. The visitors put a strong side out making only 2 changes from their last game.

Hillians had the first chance on three minutes when Alex Brewer was set through. He looked to chip William Eastwood but it goes just over. Soon after from a corner Marcus Allen, on his return from a long term injury, gets his head to a corner but it flashes wide.

Hill continued to have chances and on 17 minutes Brewer gets on the end of a defensive error but a Bears defender gets back to clear off the line, before Marcel Powell’s rebound is tipped away by Eastwood.

On the stroke of half time the visitors took the lead as Callum Dowdell cut in and sent a screamer into the top corner for a half time 1-0 lead to the Bears.

The visitors had an early chance to double their lead but it’s tipped behind for a corner by debutant U18’s keeper Sonni Nealgrove. Two minutes later at the other end Reggie Ward almost equalises with a goal of the season contender as Eastwood punches a corner to the full back, he hits it sweet on the volley but it crashes off the bar.

Hill got themselves on level terms on 62 minutes courtesy of veteran Lewis Taylor. The player / assistant manager was played in from a lovely ball and he rounds Eastwood and slots home.

The game was on its way to penalties when Broadbridge Heath went a whisker away from winning the tie. They smash a drive off the inside of the post and across the goal but not in.

Hillians won the shootout 4-3 to go through with Brannon O’Neill, Koby Farrell, Lewis Taylor and Ollie Davies scoring. Keeper Nealgrove made an excellent save in the shootout as the Hill went through and will now face an away trip to Merstham in the next round.

Hill: Sonni Nealgrove, Reggie Ward, Samuel Forbes-Parker (Henry Yorke-Johnson 75), Dylan Hurst (Koby Farrell 80), Brannon O’Neill, Marcus Allen, Joe Overy (Charlie Bonwick-Adams 69), Lewis Taylor, Alex Brewer (Damien Theodore 69), Noah Hoffman, Marcel Powell (Ollie Davies 82).