Burgess Hill suffer big home defeat to Harrow Borough

Toby Pointing, Burgess Hill Town FC SUS-150713-151301001

Ian Chapman shuffled the team around following Burgess Hill’s 1-0 defeat to Enfield at the weekend. Will Miles got his first start of the season on his return from injury, whilst new signing George Branford became the third player to start at right-back this, with Lee Harding and Toby Pointing having played their already.

Harrow Borough Captain Marc Charles-Smith opened scoring after just nine minutes. Dave Taylor’s shot was saved by keeper Josh James who could only parry the ball into the path of Charles-Smith who was there to smash the ball into the net from four yards.

Lewis Driver doubled Harrow Borough’s lead in the 27th minute. Unmarked in the box, Joshua Webb’s corner kick found Driver who had a free header inside the six-yard box, putting the visitors in the driving seat.

Two minutes before the break Dave Taylor hammered the ball passed James from close-range. Michael Bryan launched the attack down the right wing beating two players before blasting the ball at James forcing a save. Taylor was quickest to react, securing a third and putting the game out of reach.

The Hillians ended the first half resorting to long balls and trying to monopolise on set pieces but were unable to test the Harrow Borough keeper.

Just after the hour mark Charles-Smith put in his second of the game, Lewis Driver’s through ball split the Hillians defence allowing Charles-Smith to round the keeper tapping the ball into the net, a calm, collected finish from the captain.

Burgess Hill couldn’t find their rhythm posing no threat on goal and lacking fluidity and composure on the ball.

In the 74th minute Dylan Cascoe scored the fifth and final goal of the evening, cutting inside from the left wing, his right-footed effort rifled into the far corner of the net, a magnificent strike that gave keeper James no chance.

Just a few minutes later Joshua Webb was sent off for reacting aggressively to a foul on him, throwing a fist towards Pointing whilst sat on the ground.

The Hillians failed to test the Harrow Borough keeper and have scored just once in their last three league games, as the challenge of competing in the Ryman Premier Division proves to be a huge learning curve.

Burgess Hill face Merstham on Saturday who were also promoted from the Ryman League Division One South.

Burgess Hill Town: James, Branford, Fisk, Budd (Pointing 46), Pearson, Miles, Pearse, Keehan, P.Harding, Smith (Jones 61), L Harding (Saunders 80)

Unused subs: Wiltshire, Kirkwood

Harrow Borough: Goode, Webb, Waldren, Page, Peacock, Webb, Bryan, Taylor, Charles-Smith, Driver, Cascoe

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!