Dour but there are positives

Burgess Hill 0
burgess hill v leatherhead 12/11/13burgess hill v leatherhead 12/11/13
burgess hill v leatherhead 12/11/13

Leatherhead 0

by Chris Francis

It was dour fayre for spectators but Burgess Hill’s assistant manager Stuart Tuck had every right to dwell on the positives after Tuesday’s goalless home draw with high-flying Leatherhead.

Another clean sheet was clearly top of the list and for that Danny Curd must take plenty of credit, continuing his conversion from centre forward to centre half.

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Tuck said: “After three weeks without a game it was important we get something out of this match and overall I thought we were the better team. Sure, we may not have shown enough urgency and desire in the closing stages but it was important we didn’t give anything away against a very useful side.”

Certainly Hillians were well worth a point but no more as they failed to up the tempo once the Tanners were reduced to 10 men for the last 20 minutes.

Visiting left back Dan Parkinson was shown what must be the two yellow cards issued in the shortest span of time in any match. He was booked for a cynical foul on Max Miller and when the resulting free kick was half cleared, he then brought down Paul Armstrong.

Havant referee Mike Desborough did not have to ponder long as both tackles merited yellow but the decision failed to have much bearing on the outcome as the Tanners regrouped and Hillians failed to raise their game, despite pushing Pat Harding forward from midfield and playing Miller and the impressive Greg Luer wide.

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Options on the bench were limited in terms of attackers and manager Ian Chapman decided on only one change, and that late on as Spencer Slaughter replaced Armstrong.

Actually it was the visitors who had the best chance after being reduced to 10 men when a quick free kick put Tom Bradbrook free on the right but the angle was against him and the finish off target.

Hillians created the better openings in the first half, with Luer pulling a fine save from Will Galmon and Miller’s touch letting him down when similarly placed to his counterpart Bradbrook late on.

But the closest the hosts came was on 29 minutes when Arsmtrong did well and Luer had a shot deflected for a corner, from which ever-consistent left back Sam Fisk headed against the top of the bar.

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A draw was undoubtedly the right result and one that probably suited both camps.

Hillians: Mansfield; Pointing, Keehan, Curd, Fisk; P Harding, Budd, Kirkwood, Armstrong (Slaughter, 80); Miller, Luer. Unused subs: Watts, Denyer, Martin, L Harding.

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