An entertaining, close-fought game ended goalless as both defenses and goalkeepers came out on top in the A23 derby. Read my account of the action as it happened at The TerraPurra Ground.
Pre-match: The A23 derby is upon us! This looks to be a very tasty game tonight. Both sides are struggling to find form in The Isthmian South-East League with Whitehawk sat in 17th on 6 points from their opening 7 games and Burgess Hill in 18th on 4 points from their first 7. Could this game be a turning point in the season for either of these teams? Who’s going to come out on top? Join me at The TerraPurra Ground and find out! Kick-off at 7:45pm.
Pre-match: TEAM NEWS!
Pre-match: The pitch is looking beautiful, the teams are ready, kick-off is approaching.
Kick-off: We’re underway beneath the lights here at The TerraPurra Ground.
15th minute: update. Very level game so far here. Both defenses looking strong against small waves of attacks. Not many chances conceded as of yet.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
19th minute: booking! Burgess Hill’s Lewis Taylor is shown the yellow card after Whitehawk’s Javaun Splatt gets past him on the left wing. Taylor brings him down cynically just outside of the area and gets the booking for it.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
19th minute: save! The resulting free-kick is taken by Whitehawk’s Stephen Okoh from a very tight angle. He shoots powerfully past the wall at Seymours goal but it’s fairly straight forward for the man on loan from … as he parries away from danger.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
24th minute: save! And what a save it was by Nathan Stroomberg-Clarke. Max Miller with some great footwork to set himself free of Luke Emberson and he puts a teasing ball in toward Connor Tighe who gets a good shot on goal from around six yards which forces a wonderful reaction stop from Stroomberg-Clarke. Should be 1-0 but some great work from Whitehawk’s number one keeps it level.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
26th minute: close! Burgess hill are knocking on the door here. This time number 1s beaten all ends up after a great shot by number 11 and he’s lucky to see the ball rattle his crossbar and go to safety. Games starting to open up and Burgess Hill look most likely to break the deadlock.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
36th minute: close! Off the line! Once again the Whitehawk keeper is beaten and requires stroomberg-clarke to clear off the line at full stretch after finney strikes at goal from close range. Chances coming!
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
38th minute: save! Whitehawk number 9 goes clean through after some shakey defending by number 5 and as the balls bouncing he takes a snapshot. Unfortunately for the home side it’s straight at Seymour and he keeps it goalless.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
43rd minute: save! Seymour with a wonderful save again to keep things goalless. Muggerdige with the shot from around 25 yards out and it looks to be finding the top left corner of seymours goal but he tips wide brilliantly at full stretch. Whitehawk starting to pile the pressure on before half-time.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
Half-time: the referees whistle signals the end of an eventful half. After a slow start to the game from both teams, Burgess hill started to pile on the pressure and came close three times, forcing a great save and a goal line clearance, even getting denied by the cross bar. Whitehawk we’re quick with their response and created chances of their own forcing Seymour into some great saves to keep things goalless. Defences are on top so far. Join me for the second half! Goals in this game you feel.
Second half begins…
58th minute: close! Stroomberg-Clarke with a poor clearance which lands straight at Lewis Finney who tries his luck from range at the half open goal but it sails just wide. Quiet start again to this half, but that didn’t last long in the first half.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
62nd minute: save! Lambert powers done the right hand side and his cross just misses Muggeridge. It falls to Okoh at the far post but his shot is straight at Seymour.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
66th minute: Substitution. Burgess Hill’s Pat Harding replaces Lewis Finney.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
69th minute: booking! Okoh sees yellow for a poor challenge on Max Miller just inside the Whitehawk half.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
71st minute: substitution. Whitehawk’s James Fraser replaces Stephen Okoh.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
78th minute: booking! Luke Emberson is booked for a strong challenge Hayden Perez.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
80th minute: substitution. Whitehawk’s Billie Clark replaces Charlie Lambert.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
81st minute: substitution. Burgess Hill’s Charlie Kelly replaces Connor Tighe.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
83rd minute: save! Another great stop by Stroomberg-Clarke after a great shot from Reggie Ward from range looked to be sailing over his head but for a great tip over the crossbar.
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
88th minute: close! The corner from Omar Lawson is a brilliant one and tees up Mohammed Kamara for a free header on the penalty spot. He should score but instead sends the ball flying over the crossbar. Is there a last minute goal in this?
Whitehawk 0-0 Burgess Hill.
Full time: the points are shared at The TerraPurra Ground. The second half ends fairly uneventfully. All the chances came in the first 45 minutes and after some inspired goalkeeping from both Seymour and Stroomberg-Clark, the match ends goalless. Stroomberg-Clark wins the MOTM award for his brilliant showing between the sticks tonight.
Thanks so much for joining me this week and I’ll see you next Tuesday for Eastbourne.
