Burgess Hill Town FC put on a five star showing as they swept aside Hythe Town at the HomeCall Carpets Community Stadium in a match sponsored by Only With Love Brewery.

Hill bounced back in style to remain in third place with the win against a side fighting for survival.

Managers Gary Mansell and Jay Lovett made 5 changes from the Ashford United game with injuries causing a few issues and Ben Pope suspended. New signings Jay Beckford and Logan Dobbs both came straight into the starting XI whilst Nathan Cooper, Chris Whelpdale and Joe Overy also returned.

The visitors made a start and had a couple of half chances but it was the Hillians who took the lead through their skipper. Hill do really well to keep the ball alive, It’s fizzed in from the left and it comes to Brannon O’Neill who steadies himself and slots home.

Hill went close to doubling their lead on 14 minutes when some brilliant centre forward play by Dan Perry which sees him beat his man and picks out O’Neill but he heads straight at the GK. Soon after though Perry, who had started the game brilliantly, had to be replaced as he pulled up with an injury and was replaced by the returning Stefan Vukoje.

Hill did double their lead on 25 minutes as Joe Overy won a corner which O’Neill swings in and Chris Whelpdale gets to the near post and nods home.

It was 3-0 soon after as O’Neill sends a free kick in, debutant Logan Dodds nods it down, Vukoje misses his kick, the GK scrambles it off the line and it loops up for Bobby Price to nod home from a matter of yards for his 5th goal of the season and send the Hillians comfortably in at half time 3-0 ahead.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first half and it didn’t take long for the Hillians to score again. Overy is set in behind and showed brilliant composure, he sees Beckford unmarked and squares it for a tap in for a goal on his return to the Club.

Vukoje had a couple of chances to get his name on the scoresheet. He breaks the offside trap and is set away, he looks to square for a 5th but the GK comes out and does well to thwart. Soon after he got his way into a shooting position before pulling his effort just past the post.

On 74 minutes Beckford beat his man but his effort is met with another good save by the visiting goalkeeper Charlie Wealands.

Hill got their 5th and final goal of the afternoon as sub Reggie Ward got on the end of a cross at the back post and it loops up and over everyone into the net.

Ward nearly added a 6th before the end as he is found in the clear by Noah Hoffman but the Hythe GK again makes a very good save.

It was an excellent afternoon for the Hillians and match sponsors Only With Love Brewery voted Beckford as their man of the match after an excellent display by the returning forward.

Hill: Slav Huk, Bobby Price, Hamish Morrison, Brannon O’Neill (Harry Lawson 76), Nathan Cooper, Logan Dobbs, Joe Overy (Reggie Ward 72), Kieran Rowe (Ryan Worrall 81), Dan Perry (Stefan Vukoje 21), Chris Whelpdale (Noah Hoffman 54), Jay Beckford.

Brickworks Man of the Match: Jay Beckford.

Pics by Phil Dennett