Ann John Trophy stays with Burgess Hill Town for another year
The Ann John Trophy remains in the hands of Burgess Hill Town after a professional performance from a strong Hillians outfit saw them hammer Hassocks 6-0 at the Beacon.
Hill have now won the annual match between these two sides on the past four occasions. Hassocks could at least take solace that the winning margin was less than the 8-1 defeat they had suffered in the previous game back in December.
Although temperatures were not quite as cold on this July evening, it was still unseasonably chilly. Combine the weather with the fact that Italy were taking on Spain in their Euro 2020 semi final at the same time and Hassocks would have been delighted that the match still raised £1200 for St Peter & St James Hospice.
Pat Harding – back in Hill colours after six goals in six games whilst moonlighting for Hassocks in the Southern Combination League Supplementary Shield in April – had the first two opportunities but he could not quite force the ball in on either occasion.
Hill had to wait until midway through the first half to make their dominance count on the scoreboard. Andrew Herring’s cross was headed home by Max Miller and once that went in, the floodgates unfortunately opened.
Harding doubled the advantage minutes later when converting the rebound from a blocked Martyn Box shot. A flurry of goals then arrived in the final five minutes of the first half, starting with a Box free kick bent expertly over the wall and into the top corner.
A driving run out of the Hill defence from Josh Spinks saw him make it all the way to the by-line to cross for Miller to sweep home his second and the visitors’ fourth. Miller was not quite done yet, rounding off a first half hat-trick after Harding nodded a Herring chip back across goal for his strike partner to apply the finishing touch.
5-0 at half time became 6-0 straight from the restart. Hill advanced up the pitch to win a corner which was met by a thumping header from George Brown who has swapped the Beacon for the More Than Tyres Stadium for 2021-22.
Hassocks could have been forgiven for fearing the worst at that point, losing by a half-dozen goals with 40 minutes still to play. The Robins dug in though and prevented Hill adding to the scoreline although another one-time Hassocks player in Scott Kirkwood did smash a free kick against a post late on.
The hosts managed to summon a shot on goal shortly before Kirkwood left the woodwork rattling but young Hillians goalkeeper Joe Ridley made an excellent save to preserve his side’s clean sheet.
Not the result on-the-pitch that the Robins would have been looking for, but an excellent evening off it for St Peter & St James at a time when charities need all the help and support they can get.
Hassocks and Hill have certainly played their part and everyone at the Beacon wishes Jay Lovett and his squad good luck for their Isthmian League season ahead.
