Burgess Hill Town put in an excellent performance on a freezing cold day on the Kent Coast to move up to 4th in the table as play off chasing Deal Town were defeated 5-3.

The Hillians dominated in Kent but two goals in the last eight minutes from the hosts made the score look closer than it was.

Deal had gone in to the game with just one defeat in their last 6, that coming against leaders Ramsgate, and have been quietly climbing the table and went into the fixture just one place outside the play off zone.

Managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett made just one change from the 2-0 win over Sevenoaks last time out with Ben Pope coming in for Noah Hoffman.

The Hillians dominated the first half and should have been more than 2-0 up at the break. Hill took just 11 minutes to take the lead as Tom Chalaye does a roulette in the box to throw off two Deal defenders and sends in an inch perfect cross for Ben Pope to head home with a perfect diving header.

Stefan Vukoje beat his man on 19 minutes and fired an effort which draws a smart save from Deal stopper Adam Molloy. The resulting corner is met by Marcus Allen but it’s straight at the keeper.

It was 2 on 24 minutes as a long free kick was brought down by Chalaye, he lays it off to Bobby Price for his 2nd assist and Price smashes it into the far corner.

Hill continued to press forward with some impressive moves Vukoje was played clean through but can’t beat Malloy and soon after Vukoje and Pope play a 1-2 resulting in Vukoje stabbing just wide.

Just before half time Kieran Rowe crossed for Pope who brought it down, spun, and shot but it flies over as the Hillians went in 2 up at the break.

The hosts got themselves right back into the game just three minutes into the second half when a free kick was half cleared to Alfie Foster who volleyed home at the far post.

But the Hillians responded brilliantly and straightaway restored their two goal advantage as Hill broke down the right, Pope and Chalaye combine again brilliantly, Chalaye has his shot saved by Molloy but it comes to Vukoje who smashed home a deserved goal.

The Hill made it 4-1 as Price got in behind and whips it in, Deal don’t clear and Pope heads home for his second of the game.

The visiting Hillians weren’t done there and on 68 minutes it was 5. Vukoje picks the ball up and absolutely thunders a strike off the underside of the bar and in for the goal of the match.

In the last 8 minutes Deal struck twice Archie Hatcher blasts and almost misses the whole net. It hits the bar and the assistant referee gives the goal and then Morgan Page tapped in at the far post on 89 minutes to make it 5-3.

That was the end of the action and the win saw the Hillians move ahead of Beckenham Town up to fourth with games in hand on those around and send the good amount of Hillians supporters back to Sussex with smiles on their faces.

Hill: Slav Huk, Hamish Morrison, Reggie Ward, Bobby Price, Nathan Cooper, Marcus Allen (Alex Malins 73), Stefan Vukoje, Kieran Rowe (Chris Whelpdale 70), Tom Chalaye (Dan Perry 78), Ben Pope (Brannon O’Neill 78), Joe Overy (Martyn Box 61).