This season I’ve gone away from being really organised about where I’m going from week to week. Usually I’m quite well planned from month to month for most Saturdays and Tuesdays. Occasionally I mark a couple of games and then decide a little closer to the time but nothing is ever set completely in stone.
Quite often I’ve made a decision on Saturday morning or Monday night before the Tuesday, staying local or heading out of Sussex. There are plenty of good looking fixtures every week, but for some reason the lines keep blurring.
I don’t go for ground hopping status or anything like that, it’s all about the teams involved, league positions, the people involved or something about that particular ground be it an impressive facility, the food or something good I’ve seen on social media.
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Despite the fact I’ve lived in Sussex for around 18 years now there is the odd ground or two I’ve still yet to pop along to, not for any other reason than that it’s not really given me something to drop into.
Burgess Hill Town has been one of those grounds until Saturday afternoon. A very decent game looked in the offing at home to Aveley, both sides in or just outside the play-off spots and the Essex outfit with just two league defeats so far this season.
Town’s new owners have recently laid a new 3G surface and of course the surroundings with it look much tidier, securing the club’s future as they like most others look to increase their revenue streams as far as possible.
Outside bars and increased food outlets are something I’m starting to see a lot more frequently the different places I go, more choice and less queues does mean more money likely to be spent especially if the clubhouse is now too small to cope with larger crowds.
A sunny drive across country turned to a cold finish by the end of the 90 minutes, not too often I’ve seen much sunshine this side of summer for a game and it certainly doesn’t last long when it does appear.
A small contingent had made their way over the Dartford Bridge and were in fine voice, they certainly were given plenty to cheer out during the afternoon.
From the off Aveley took complete control of the game and they opened the scoring on 12 minutes. A free kick 20 yards out was curled in superbly by George Saunders, well out of the reach of keeper Alfie Mansell, little did we know then it was to set the tone for the afternoon.
Three minutes later the lead was doubled, a lofted cross into the box was missed by Mansell and Ryan Charles had an easy header into the net. Worse was to come as a further three minutes later, Charles was allowed to bypass and ride challenges to fire home from a full 25 yards out, Mansell with no chance of getting anywhere near the ball, the game effectively over inside 20 minutes.
Just before the half hour mark, Aveley found the net again. Having got in down the left hand side the ball was crossed in, finding Ollie Peters in the middle who tapped home, four efforts on goal and all found the back of the net.
Hill having not been able to get any type of possession going through that first half an hour, Aveley pressing high up the pitch and nicking it back to start another attack as will. The home side did register a shot on target, a free kick that was drilled straight at visiting keeper Joe Wright, a comfortable lead for Aveley at the break.
Within three minutes of the restart, the home side pulled on back. Aveley’s Ryan Henshaw sent off for a second bookable offence which from the other end of the pitch looked to be inside the area, the referee deemed otherwise.
From the resulting free kick Max Fiddes headed the ball home at the back post for a glimmer of light for Burgess Hill. With a comfortable lead and a man short, the visitors seemed content to play on the counter and defend what they had.
Plenty of possession came the way of the home side, but Aveley held ranks well at the back end of the park and seemingly no way through for a home side desperate to get back into the match.
With ten minutes to go, Hill did get another back, Jake King slaloming his way into the box and his cross slid into his own net from an Aveley defender.
Another goal would certainly have made for a nervy final few minutes, the scoreline was breeched again but not for that reason. A long punt forward bounced over the head of the jumping Glen Rea, in nipped Saunders to lob a stranded Mansell for the final goal of the game and no chance of a Hill Christmas comeback.
A comprehensive win for Brett Munyard’s team, it’s easy to see why they’ve lost so few games, especially if they approach each one with the intensity they displayed on Saturday afternoon.
The pressing was on point and they picked up so many second balls which certainly made life harder for the Hill. They struggled to get anything going such was the way Aveley set about their game.
Charles and Saunders who both got braces were two players the home side couldn’t find a way to deal with either through the half, the former going off at half time having done half of the damage, the latter fielding a few positions second half to ensure they held onto the lead.
Two first half injuries to Luke Gambin and Ben Pope didn’t help the Hillians cause either, two Under 18’s on the bench to begin the game might mean a few reinforcements are sought to help through the Xmas period.
One last point, the programme produced by the club is one of the best I’ve seen. As many of you will know I write columns for 14 different ones up and down the country, I always look for those who provide the balance of adverts with plenty to read as well.
I have no issue with those who fill most of their pages with adverts but charging the same price as those who give you something to read or get the brain thinking should be called out for sure.
