Burgess Hill Town back in league action after a fortnight's break

The Hillians haven’t played a league game for a fortnight since visiting Grays Athletic and their last game was eleven days ago when they defeated Pagham 2-1 in the Sussex Senior Cup.

Manager Ian Chapman has used this time put the players through a few training sessions, something that he has been unable to do a lot this season due to games every Saturday and midweek.

Chapman said: “We’ve been able to have quite a few training sessions, something I felt we had been missing because we’ve had so many games.

“The players attitudes have been spot on and we have worked very hard, fitness wise, as well as in and out of possession.”

Chapman has a full squad of players to select from on Saturday for the visit of Billericay which will be the Hillians first home game for five weeks when they beat Met Police 4-2.

Recent signings Sam Gargan and Elliot Levy have both featured in recent Under 21’s matches with striker Gargan netting in his last two matches.

Chapman said: “Gargs and Elliott have now had a few more weeks around the lads. Both players have great attacking quality and will be good players for us once they are fitter.”

The Hillians Under 21s progressed through to the next round of the SCFA Intermediate Cup on Saturday after defeating Broadbridge Heath, 6-0.

Gargan opened the scoring, whilst player / Under 21 manager Paul Armstrong also netted. Lucas Franzen-Jones, Henry Bolland (2) and George Branford also got their names on the scoresheet.

The game also saw a father / son duo play in the same match as first team assistant manager Stuart Tuck played alongside his son Josh in defence.

Dan Perry has just completed a month’s loan at Ryman South side Peacehaven and Chapman announced this week that the striker will spend a second month at Piddinghoe Avenue.

“Dan will sign for another month at Peacehaven where he is getting the benefit of regular first team football, and hopefully when he comes back we will reap the rewards from this.”

Saturday’s match is the first time the two sides have ever met and the Essex side currently sit in ninth place, three places above the Hillians, after amassing 33 points from their opening 22 games.

They appear to find goals easy to come by after hitting 38 goals in those 22 games. Only league leaders Dulwich Hamlet and East Thurrock United have scored more.

Forward Mike Fondop-Talom and Teddy Nesbitt are regulars on the score sheet with midfielder Nesbitt currently enjoying a rich vein of goalscoring form in recent weeks.

The experienced former Dulwich Hamlet manager Craig Edwards is in charge at New Lodge and his squad includes veteran Cliff Akurang who was once one of non-leagues most feared strikers but has since evolved his game and now features mainly at centre back.

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