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Ryman League Division 1 South
Burgess Hill 0 Whitehawk 2
n by CHRIS FRANCIS
chris.francis@sussexnewspapers.co.uk
JPMT 210112 Football, Burgess Hill v Whitehawk. photo by Derek Martin
HILLIANS boss Simon Rowland was disappointed with Saturday’s result but not the performance, believing his side once again proved they can now compete with the best in the division.
Two goals in the last 10 minutes sent them to defeat and that was despite high-flying Hawks having Ben Godfrey rather harshly sent off after 64 minutes for a late but definitely not malicious tackle on Hillians captain Lloyd Cotton.
Even Rowland did not argue with the final scoreline: “It says a lot that we are all disappointed and is an indication of how far we’ve come in the last few months. But when you think of the quality of players they have, it says a lot that we can compete with players from a much lower standard.”
It was former Albion striker Sam Gargan who came off the bench to head his side in front late in the game and at the start of five minutes stoppage time, livewire James Fraser doubled their tally.
To be fair, Hillians had shown little as an attacking force after a bright first 20 minutes and far too often the final ball let them down. But they looked like they might hold out for another useful point before that late double blow.
Injuries to Akwasi Edusei and veteran Paul Tuppenney, in his home debut, did not help the cause but it was only the excellence of home keeper Joel Harding that kept them in the hunt for so long. His first-half save to keep out Fraser’s superb 34th minute free kick was right out of the top drawer and four minutes after the break he splendidly denied Kyle Vassell from a one-on-one.
Poor Vassell then directed a free header tamely at Harding and then when he missed an absolute sitter on 70 minutes, he was immediately withdrawn. That came after another good save by Harding from Gargan’s stinging free kick and the keeper certainly deserved his bit of luck as Vassell somehow skied over the rebound.
After a promising start, when they produced the first shot on goal after 10 minutes as Fred Foreman’s effort after a neat build-up was too close to Chris Winterton, Hillians went off the boil despite the best promptings of skipper Cotton.
Hawks then started to threaten and twice Fraser only just failed to make contact with telling crosses from the left by Josh Jones and Sam Fisk.
Earlier Hawks were lucky not to have to pay a high price when the experienced Stuart Tuck gave away possession but without too much support, Pat Harding was unable to hurt them badly. Harding is looking more the part up front but once again ended the game in midfield after new signing from Rye, Dom Clarke, was brought on.
Rowland and Ben White may well be pleased to get the opportunity to play both up front at some stage and certainly Harding could benefit enormously from Clarke’s physical presence.
Sadly, with the skilful Ty Berry having a real off day, Hillians’ threat was severely limited although Cotton did have one decent half chance in the second half when he just got there first to a cross from Harding.
But Hawks had the final word and for the most part looked as if they probably always would.
Hillians: J Harding; White, Tuppenney, Watts, Edusei; Foreman, Cotton, Bold, Melia; Berry; P Harding. Subs: Tregear (Edusei, 22), Clarke & Poole (Bold & Tuppenney, 77).
Bookings: Hill - Watts (retaliation), Tregear (foul); Hawks - Tuck (foul), Armstrong (foul).
Attendance: 222.
Middy Starman: Joel Harding, did superbly to keep his side in the hunt for so long.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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