The Hillians traveled to Chichester eagerly looking to get some points on the board after an opening day defeat. The eagerness was quickly replaced by that same old feeling.

It was a real game of very few clear cut chances at Oaklands Park. Both teams played some great football at times but both lacked that clinical edge. The first chance of note fell to the hosts in the 19th minute, an inswinging corner was headed over by a City boy. The Hillians faithful had to wait till the 25th minute for a chance of real note. The impressive Dan Cadman burst down the left and crossed towards Dan Perry who was unmarked and looked certain to score but a home defender did very well to clear the danger for a corner. Set pieces were proving City’s best chance of opening the scoring, a dangerous free kick was flicked inches wide in a heart in mouth moment for the Hill. Just before halftime the Hill broke and Hayden Skerry carried the ball towards the Chi goal, he tried his luck from the edge of the area but it was well blocked by a defender.

HT: 0-0.

The first half wasn’t dull but neither team ever looked like scoring, coming out for the second 45 both benches would of been sensing a chance to get maximum points. It was Chi who started the stronger in the second 45, one of Hillians standouts, Dan Cadman, produced a brilliant block to keep the scores on the doors level. A massive Burgess Hill chance came and went in the 57th minute. Hayden Skerry waltzed his way down the by line and got into the box, he had players waiting for a cut back and tried to pick one of them out but once again it was well intercepted by a host defender. Both sides were still struggling to find that sparkle infront of goal, Olly Munt resorting to trying from 25 yards which stung the palms of Will Huffer. As the second half grew on, the Burgess Boys were dominating possession but really struggling to do anything meaningful, with Chi looking more threatening on the break. Once again a Hillian defender had to put in a goalsaving block to deny a Green and White before the deadlock was heartbreakingly broken. It was a case of genius substitutes by the Chichester coaching staff as 2 subs combined. Ethan Pritchard burst away down the right as the Hill were stretched, he crossed for Kaleem Haitham who sweeped past a helpless Will Huffer to spark jubilant celebrations and leave Burgess Hill crestfallen for the second game running.

FT: 1-0.

A tale of more dropped points for Burgess Hill. An improved performance but once again, we never really looked like scoring. That will be Jay Lovett’s biggest concern, one that we need to overcome and quickly.

Next Up, the greatest cup competition in football makes its way to Mid Sussex as we welcome Stansfeld to the More Than Tyres Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Emirates FA Cup.