Match Report: Burgess Hill Town 2-1 Eastbourne Town (FA Cup Preliminary Round)

It was a ten year wait but despite the result, it was worth it, as Town and Burgess Hill locked horns at a sun-drenched Leylands Park.

The last time Eastbourne Town and Burgess Hill took to the grass was in the FA Cup in a tight affair on the same ground. Lee Harding with the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win for Burgess Hill. This fixture would bring two more goals and they were all top tier!

Burgess Hill flew out of the traps in front of a healthy 400+ supporters who were looking to enjoy two Isthmian League South East sides duke it out for a place in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.

A cross from former Eastbourne Town supporters player of the season, Ollie Davies, was half-cleared by Leon Greig and the incoming Kieren Rowe fizzes his right-footed strike into the top right corner to give Burgess Hill the lead.

The pressure continued and so did Kieran Rowe. After some excellent interplay and a one-two with Pope, Rowe found himself in on goal but Chris Winterton positioned himself well to save with his left foot. Burgess Hill was firmly on top in the first half-an-hour.

The Hillians domination would continue and in the 34th minute, it was some finish to double the host’s lead. Kieran Rowe sweeps the ball out to the right, Hamish Morrison carries and delivers deep to the back post and Martyn Box hits a first-time volley into the near post. Two-nil to Burgess Hill at the break and plenty to do for Town to stay in the FA Cup.

As the teams came out for the second half, most thought this could be three or four-nil with the way the first 45 minutes went. That was not to be. Press, press, press from Town. A similar aggression and front-footed approach we saw against Newhaven last season would eventually force home a goal and some hope.

A Leon Grieg corner was parried away by Slav Huk, Nathan Hover prodded it back into the danger area were James Waters was waiting for a moment of magic. Waters, with his back to goal, sets himself with a keepy up and pulls off an audacious overhead kick into the right-hand corner. Game on!

The game was open and back and forth. With Town pushing for a goal, Burgess Hull was waiting to counter. But it was a corner that nearly killed Town’s resurgence. Nathan Cooper powered his header towards goal but Winterton once again pulled off a good save, keeping Towns hopes alive.

Then, the opportunity to equalise and force a replay. Eliot Jenks with a free-kick in stoppage time found an unmarked Nathan Hover but the centre-half could not quite get over the ball and his header went over.

That would be that. Burgess Hill advance to the next round and Town will seek revenge in the League at The Saffrons on the 26th of August (Bank Holiday Monday).