Following a short weather enforced break, Whitstable returned to action with a spirited display at Burgess Hill that saw them claim a good away point. Confidence had obviously been knocked after seven consecutive losses, but the whole team worked hard to try to turn things around and were rewarded with a clean sheet and something to build on for the remaining games. The Hillians won a number of corners that were generally well defended and Dan Eason made some vital saves when called upon. Will Huffer, the home goalkeeper, also made a couple of good stops, in particular tipping a late Harry Goodger volley over the bar to ensure the spoils would be shared.

This fixture did not look the easiest for Whitstable to attempt to halt their recent terrible run of form, with Burgess Hill seventh in the table and still aiming for the play offs. They had left the Belmont with a narrow 1-0 win earlier in the season, the deciding goal being a Lewis Taylor penalty. The Whitstable team had worked hard since the defeat at Three Bridges two weeks earlier and started this game with a different formation, including a back four of Jake Mackenzie, Mohammed Kamara, Tom Mills and George Whitelock. Will Thomas was pushed forward into midfield, Charlie Heatley played up front with George McIlroy and Stephen Okoh providing some width. Harry Goodger, Junior Baker and Gus Barnes dropped to the bench alongside Callum Watts and the returning Zak Bryon. A good attendance of 406 watched on a sunny afternoon with a chilly breeze.

The Hillians won a couple of early corners and, from the second, the ball ended in the Whitstable net, but it was ruled out for a foul on Eason. Whitstable took a while to threaten, but Okoh and Heatley combined well to set up McIlroy who was denied by Nic D’Arienzo, although an offside flag had already been raised. Eason safely claimed two more corners swung in by Martyn Box before Whitstable had an opportunity in the 19th minute when a throw in reached Thomas on the 18 yard line, but his shot went the wrong side of the post. Some good football on the right involving Mackenzie, McIlroy and George Monger created an opening for Okoh who lifted his shot over the top from a narrow angle. The first real goal attempt by the Hillians came in the 33rd minute as Connor Tighe fired a speculative effort well over the bar. Whitstable continued to press and Okoh cut in from the left before trying a shot that was blocked, then the rebound was retrieved by Heatley who found McIlroy and his effort was deflected behind for Whitstable’s first corner. The impressive McIlroy tried his luck again when he collected Monger’s corner, but his curling shot was again cut out by the defence. Tom Chalaye ran on to a long ball from Harry Pollard, but Eason came to the rescue. The home captain Lewis Taylor had to depart with an injury in the 39th minute, then Pat Harding rolled a weak shot wide. Just before half time, D’Arienzo met a corner at the near post, only to see his glancing header go across goal and narrowly wide.

Whitstable had a careless couple of minutes at the start of the second half that might have proved costly. Lewis Finney raced forward after Whitstable lost possession and skipped past an attempted tackle leaving him with just Eason to beat, but his shot lacked power and the goalkeeper’s leg denied him. Another misplaced pass then led to a chance for Chalaye to shoot, but his effort curled past the post. Kamara collected the only card of the game for a foul on Box, then a long ball sent Chalaye clear on the right, but he dragged his shot past the far post. Having survived the opening ten minutes of the half, Whitstable then regained some composure and began to look the more likely to break the deadlock. Monger curled a long shot just over when a headed clearance fell to him, then Heatley found McIlroy in space on the right of the area, but he was unable to keep his shot down. Okoh was next to put a shot wide after McIlroy had picked him out. Huffer was tested when Thomas collected a long Kamara free kick and hit a stinging left foot shot that he could only parry, but Pollard managed to clear the loose ball before McIlroy could put it into the net.

Walder got himself in the way of a Tighe shot at the other end, then after a few substitutions, the Hillians started to threaten again and handball appeals were waved away when a Josh Spinks shot was blocked at close range by Kamara. On 75 minutes, Eason did well to turn a Finney free kick around the post, then Michael Uwezu sent Max Miller racing clear from his own half, but he was unable to beat Eason. A Spinks header from Harding’s corner was also saved and Finney put the loose ball over the bar. Whitstable went close in the 84th minute when Goodger swept the ball out to Barnes on the right then met his cross at the edge of the area with a great volley that Huffer just managed to tip over the bar. Kamara got back well to halt Miller as he broke through again, but neither team were destined to find a winner on the day.

Whitstable must now follow up this encouraging performance with some wins and the next challenge is a home game against Hythe Town on Saturday.

Burgess Hill	Data	Whitstable
5	Shots on target	2
6	Shots off target	6
2	Shots blocked	3
12	Corners	3
8	Fouls conceded	11
0	Offside	2
0	Penalties	0

Burgess Hill Town
Will Huffer, Pat Harding, Nic D’Arienzo, Lewis Taylor (c) (Charles Towning 39), Harry Pollard, Josh Spinks, Connor Tighe (Hayden Skerry 89), Lewis Finney, Michael Uwezu, Tom Chalaye (Max Miller 68), Martyn Box.
Sub (unused): Dan Cadman

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Jake Mackenzie, George Whitelock, Danny Walder, Mohammed Kamara, Tom Mills (c), George McIlroy (Gus Barnes 68), Will Thomas (Zak Bryon70), Stephen Okoh, Charlie Heatley (Harry Goodger 76), George Monger.
Subs (unused): Junior Baker, Callum Watts.
Yellow card: Mohammed Kamara 53

Attendance: 406
Referee: Luke Chapman
Assistants: Nick Blogg & Darren Eaton