SLIDESHOW: Casuals victory means it’s seven points from nine for the Hillians

For the third game in a row, Manager Ian Chapman, was able to select the same starting XI with defender Sam Gore coming on in the second half for his debut after signing in the Summer from Lewes.

Hill started brightly and Pat Harding crossed for Rob O’Toole who’s shot was blocked from 3 yards out. With 5 minutes gone Greg Luer headed just over the bar from Will Miles’ deep cross.

Hillians continued to pile on the pressure with skipper Darren Budd having a curling shot go just wide of the far post.

The lively Luer nearly gave Hill the lead when he broke through the Casuals defence and fired a low shot which hit the inside of the post and the ball rebounded out to the grateful Danny Bracken in the visitor’s goal.

Hillians had half chances through Harding and Joe Keehan before Hillians deservedly broke the deadlock.

Luer was the scorer with an excellent solo effort that saw him break from the right, beating 3 players before driving a powerful shot low into the bottom corner from outside the box leaving Bracken with no chance.

Hillians had the last say of the first half when Rob O’Toole’s cross was headed goal-bound by Budd only to see Bracken tip the ball over. The resulting corner saw O’Toole strike over.

The visitors looked a lot livelier in the second half and took the game to the Hillians with the wind with them although Andy Pearson had the first chance of the second period when Budd’s corner fell to the defender and his miss hit shot rolled straight to the keeper.

Casuals went close with defender Joe Hicks heading over a corner and soon after the dangerous Jamie Byatt turned on the edge of the box and shot which Josh James saved comfortably.

Despite a spell of pressure it was the Hillians who doubled the lead on 67 minutes when Harding broke down the right and his powerful low cross was turned into his own net by visiting defender Danny Dudley with sub Dan Smith ready to pounce at the far post.

Former Albion striker Carl Wilson-Dennis nearly pulled one back immediately for Corinthian Casuals when he shot through a crowd but James saved comfortably.

Smith thundered a strike against the post in the closing minutes when he went through down the right, cut in and hit the ball before Casuals halved the deficit with the last kick of the game.

Hicks header was saved by James from a corner and the rebound was scored by Ellis Wilson-Joseph but it was too late for the visitors as the referee blew for full time straight after the kick off as the Hillians claimed the three points.

Hillians: Josh James, Neil Watts, Sam Fisk, Andy Pearson, Will Miles, Scott Kirkwood (Dan Smith 66). Darren Budd, Joe Keehan, Rob O’Toole (Sam Gore 75), Greg Luer (Lee Harding 90), Pat Harding.

Subs not used: Dann Perry, Paul Armstrong.