Burgess Hill 3 Chipstead 0: Hillians gain easy win

This keeps Hillians top of the table with 97 points and eight games yet to play.

Hill started the game on the front foot with Saunders shooting within the first minute only to see his effort deflected wide and just two minutes later Toby Pointing put in a cross that found Lee Harding and his shot was deflected past Milan Stojsaveltvic to give Hill the lead.

Hill were taking control of the game and chances were coming thick and fast.

Pat Harding tested Stojsaveltic with a first-time shot that he tipped over the bar and Pat again tested him twice more in quick succession but a good double save denied Hill a second goal.

Lee Harding went close twice with a shot just wide and a header that went inches past the post which was followed by Saunders when he headed just over the bar and Stojsaveltic was tested by his own defender when his back-pass header bounced higher than he expected and he had to tip the ball over the bar.

Pat Harding saw Stojsaveltic make a great double-save when he went through on 40 minutes just on half-time Will Miles put in a deep cross that Joe Keehan headed back across the box but no Hill player could a touch and it was cleared from danger.

The second half started as the first and the first chance fell to Keehan who hit a volley just wide from 25 yards out.

Chipstead created a rare chance on 53 minutes when Tre Milford curled a shot just wide.

Dan Pearse went close with a well-struck shot from outside the box and Stojsaveltic was again called into action when a Fisk long throw found Lee Harding five yards out but he somehow managed to get his fingertips to it to turn his header around the post.

The chances again kept coming and Pat Harding saw his volley well-saved and Saunders was denied by Stojsaveltic when he saved well with his legs.

Darren Budd came on for Graham Martin and a minute later Hill added a second when Lee Harding made a good run down the left and his cross found Keehan inside the box and he made no mistake by slotting the ball home.

Lee Harding thought he had got his second of the game but his header hit the post and rebounded into Stojsaveltic’s arms, Dan Perry replaced Pat Harding on 73 minutes up front and he was involved in a move that saw Keehan hit a sweet volley goalbound but again Stojsaveltic in the visitors goal produced fine save and ten minutes later Keehan found space in the box from a Saunders free-kick but his diving header went just wide.

With only a minute left on the clock Callum Saunders scored Hills’ third of the game after a Sam Fisk throw was flicked-on by Keehan and he smashed the ball home from ten yards out.

Man of the Match Joe Keehan was presented with a case of beer after the game.

Burgess Hill Town: Josh James, Toby Pointing, Sam Fisk, Graham Martin (Darren Budd 64), Andy Pearson, Will Miles, Dan Pearse, Joe Keehan (Spencer Slaughter 89), Pat Harding (Dan Perry 73), Lee Harding, Callum Saunders

Unused Subs: Rob O’Toole, Scott Kirkwood

Attendance: 409

Dark Star Brewery Man of the Match: Joe Keehan