After 90 minutes of huffing and puffing at Whitehawk, it took the Hillians just 2 minutes to open the deadlock on a sunny afternoon in Mid Sussex. A long ball forward was mis-controlled by Michael Uwezu but it sat up beautifully for Lewis Finney to strike it on the run and into the bottom corner to give the Hillians the perfect start. Sevenoaks weren’t perturbed by the opening goal and almost equalised in cheeky fashion as Louis Collins back heeled a corner goalwards but straight at Taylor Seymour. If Sevenoaks weren’t stunned by the first goal, perhaps conceding again was going to knock the stuffing out of them. Michael Uwezu played a ball over the top which wasn’t dealt with by Steve Smith and Max Miller pounced, bursting through and slotting home comfortably past Ben Bridle-Card. With the exception of the 2 goals, the majority of the opening exchanges saw a real lack of chances. Sevenoaks best attempt of the first 30 minutes was a tame Danny Divine header from a free kick which was meat and drink for the Sussex cat. Harry Docherty almost gifted Sevenoaks a way back into the game, a sloppy back pass allowed Louis Collins in but he couldn’t beat Seymour. Minutes later, Seymour made a flying save to keep out Fjord Rogers 30-yard howitzer as the visitors looked for a way back into it. The hosts then failed to deal with a corner and Rogers almost made them pay but once again he couldn’t beat Seymour. With just 2 minutes of the second half remaining, Sevenoaks got the goal they deserved. Bradley Schafer did tremendously down the left and his chipped cross was met by Fjord Rogers who glanced his header away from the dive of Seymour and into the bottom corner, game on!

HT: 2-1.

Sevenoaks carried the momentum they had build into the second half with Schafer testing Seymour out early. Seymour once again was forced into action just minutes later as Rogers headed a hopeful Danny Divine cross towards goal and it was heading in had it not been for the Hillians stopper tipping it over the bar. The very lively Collins almost grabbed an equaliser, as he cut inside Harry Docherty down the left and whipped an effort which clipped the top of the crossbar. On the hour mark, Sevenoaks did have their equaliser. Scrappy play in midfield led to Bradley Schafer taking aim from the edge of the box, his shot took a little nick off Max Miller and wrong footed Seymour to make it Desmond. The best player on the park, Schafer, almost grabbed his second but after gliding past Lewis Finney he shanked his shot high and wide. It was all Sevenoaks in the second half and they almost grabbed the lead when a long throw wasn’t dealt with, Seymour had to claw off the line and then Divine had an effort loop just past the post. Lewis Taylor had a volley that flew well over in the 68th minute and that was as good as Hill mustered in the second 45 up until that point. Jay Lovett’s men almost retook the lead when a long throw fell to Pat Harding who’s shot was flying in had Freeman Rogers not flung himself in front of it. Heading into the last quarter, the game was becoming very end to end, Stefan Wright was next to try his luck but his long ranger zipped over the bar. Jay Lovett handed a debut to new signing Michael Campbell off the bench and he almost had an immediate impact, he picked up the ball on the right, beat his man, drove into the box and squared for Jaden Perez but with the goal at his mercy he couldn’t sort his feet out and passed it straight to a relieved Ben Bridle-Card. Lewis Taylor has yet to score competitively for the Hillians but it’s not for the lack of trying, Charlie Kelly layed the ball off to him but he again missed the target from 25 yards. With just 4 minutes to go, the men in green and black snatched all 3 points. A Max Miller cross was only partially cleared and fell to Lewis Finney at the backpost, he worked a yard of space and bent a beauty into the upper echelons to send the Hillians faithful into delirium. Michael Campbell then had a half chance for a debut goal but couldn’t keep his effort on target as a cross found it’s way to him after lovely footwork from Perez. With just a minute left to play, Sevenoaks spurned a glorious chance. A long ball forward was flicked on and Louis Collins raced onto it but completely lacked any sort of composure and fired well wide. There was just enough time for one last long throw which landed at the feet of that man Collins but he scuffed his effort into the grateful arms of Seymour.

FT: 3-2.

The Hillians make it 4 unbeaten, and 7 points from a possible 9, as we pick up our our first home league win of the season.

Next up, we’re off to an Island, Canvey Island!