Valley fell to a second consecutive defeat as Burgess Hill Town staged a late, late fightback at Leylands Park.
With Cem Tumkaya returning after a bout of illness, Nat Blanks and Jack Sammoutis were dropped to the bench – Ade Adeyemo also returning to the starting eleven after Saturday’s loss to VCD Athletic.
The Hillians it was who got off to a lively start – their high energy pressing game making it difficult for Valley to push forward – until Valley won a 16th minute free kick on the left.
Matt Warren’s quick thinking released Rory Hill who cut the ball back to Adeyemo. As the striker’s shot was blocked, Hill followed up to slot the visitors into the lead.
And it was a lead that was indeed doubled just minutes later as good interplay down the right saw Denzel Gayle cut the ball back into the path of Marcel Barrington who spun inside and fired his 14th goal of the season in off the upright.
Both sides then had good opportunities to score – Hayden Skerry’s 21st minute free kick from 20 yards being pushed onto the post by Millers’ keeper Chris Lewington diving to his right, while Gayle’s left footed shot from Connor Dymond’s pass was deflected onto the Hillians’ post five minutes before half time.
Barrington was replaced by Raheem Sterling-Parker at the interval after suffering a hamstring injury, while Burgess Hill made two substitutions in an effort to get back into the game.
The two sides started the second half at a much quicker tempo, and on the hour the Hillians pulled a goal back.
A deep cross from the right by Leon Moore was headed back into the middle of the Valley penalty area where Lewis Finney set up Lewis Taylor to fire past Lewington.
Within two minutes, Valley were down to ten men as Hassan Ibrahiym was adjudged to have caught Seymour when chasing down a through ball. Referee Michael Hayden deemed it to be a cautionable offence and dismissed the Millers’ midfielder following a previous yellow card in the first half.
Shortly after Ibrahiym’s dismissal, Hayden turned down strong Hillians’ claims for a penalty after Tumkaya tussled with impressive substitute Martyn Box inside the area.
As the supporters behind the goal spurred on the young home side, Tom Chalaye had a shot blocked for a corner.
Valley retaliated – Alex Brefo had a header from a corner saved on the line by Seymour as the intensity increased.
With Sterling-Parker struggling up front with an injury, referee Hayden indicated that six minutes of stoppage time would be played.
And within three of those added minutes, Hill were level.
Taylor’s ball into the box was played back from the left to Max Miller who fired low beyond Lewington’s left hand.
With the clock running down, a long ball was played out of the Valley defence to the far corner at the Hillians end as they looked to relieve the mounting pressure.
With Sterling-Parker’s mobility now diminished, Seymour was able to advance unchallenged beyond the halfway line while the Valley rearguard withdrew, before playing a long pass out to the right. Reggie Ward played the ball inside to Taylor whose cross was met by Finney who headed beyond the reach of Lewington to win the game for Burgess Hill.
To add to Valley’s misery, Hill was shown a second yellow card for dissent as the teams left the pitch amidst much celebrating by the hosts.
MATCH RATING: – *****
HILLIANS : Seymour, Moore (Ward 75), Cadman (Campbell 46), Taylor ©, D’Arienzo, Spinks, Honore, Finney, Chalaye, Skerry (Box 46), Miller
Not Used : Harding, Pollard
Cautions : Campbell, Box, Taylor, Miller
MILLERS : Lewington, Dymond ©, Green, Tumkaya, Gayle (Babalola 81), Barrington (Sterling-Parker 46), Adeyemo (Sammoutis 60), Brefo, Warren, Hill, Ibrahiym
Not Used : Semakula, Blanks
Caution : Dymond
Dismissals: Ibrahiym (2 cautions), Hill (2 cautions)
Referee – Michael Hayden
Assistants – Harry Wood and Nik Garside
Pic – Rory Hill fires The Millers into a 16th minute lead
Photo and Video highlights by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos
Match highlights can be found at :- https://youtu.be/a3mNqn-NgSY
Attendance: 415