Taken from the Mid Sussex Times

Two pieces of clinical finishing and a resilient defensive display put Burgess Hill Town in FA Cup dreamland at rainlashed Nyewood Lance on Saturday.

Hillians booked their place in the third qualifying round for the first time since 1974 after a thrilling win over Diadora League Bognor in a contest that upheld the best traditions of soccer’s greatest competition.

Hillians had to withstand a ferocious early assault from the Rocks but when Sean Fearnley hammered them into a 16th minute lead, Bognor’s confidence quickly evaporated.

Richard Strange got a valuable second before half-time and the Rocks riposte didn’t materialise until the last 15 minutes, Paul Pullen pulled a goal back and the Hillians goal led a charmed life before the final whistle brought relief to the visitors.

Now they can look forward to their first home tie in this season’s competition

against Gravesend & Northfleet who won 4-3 at Dorking.

Hillians will certainly feel they are capable of matching Gravesend after their young team came of age against Bognor.

Chris Ridley was outstanding in a back four who were only unsettled when Adam Booth limped off injured. Hillians competed tigerishly in midfield with Sean Fearnley and Paul Williams outstanding and although the quality of service from the flanks was indifferent, the visitors always threatened with Richard Strange’s pace often exploiting the centre of Bognor’s defence.

Not surprisingly, Hillians were subjected to an early bombardment that raged round the ground. David Poole lobbed the ball over Hammond from 30 yards onto the top of the goal and the lively Jack Dineen rode two challenges to set up a chance for Barry Burden which he wasted with a weak shot straight at Hammond.

Then Gary Biddle curled a low shot that was destined for the bottom corner until Hammond stretched to turn the ball round the post.

But on 16 minutes, and in their first attacking foray, Hillians went in front. Paul Pullen seemed to have fouled Strange as they tussled for possession but the referee played a sensible advantage and as the ball dropped at Fearnley’s feet, he hammered a low right-footer from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

Burden was denied an equaliser two minutes later when his close range drive smacked against the post but that was the last we saw of Bognor’s attack for a while.

Keith Cheal became the busier keeper, denying Dennis Grice and then clutching a shot from Paul Harris after he had turned neatly in the box.

Hillians grabbed a vital second on 39 minutes from a move that involved just two touches. Hammond launched a huge kick from hand that bounced once then clipped the backpedalling Pullen’s heels. The ball fell invitingly into Strange’s path and he hammered a glorious shot into the top corner from 20 yards.

Bognor seemed to have few ideas on how to pull back the deficit and they might have fallen further behind on 57 minutes when a swirling free kick from Booth wide on the right deceived Cheal and rolled into the far corner. To the surprise of everyone – including Cheal – the referee penalised Grice for a push.

It was only when Booth limped off with a pulled hamstring and Hillians had to reorganise their defence that Bognor hit back.

Substitute David Muir, who was also making his debut, struggled to adjust to the pace of the game and suddenly Hillians were stretched.

Paul Pullen atoned for his earlier error to drive home a well-stuck 20 yard free kick on 76 minutes then Dineen twice went close in a minute.

Not long after Gary Mansbridge left Nigel Carr and Paul Strangeman in his wake before crossing for Lee Cormack who steered his shot across the face of the goal then Hillians got a big let off four minutes from time.

Cormack dummied Graham Marriner’s long pass but Dineen side-footed the ball off the inside of the post before watching it roll into Hammond’s grateful arms.

Middy Man of the Match: Chris Ridley