An own goal on the stroke of half time by captain Nat Blanks left Valley requiring a further point to secure a playoff spot after a frustrating afternoon at The Artic Stadium.

With Chris Lewington still suffering the effects of his groin injury, Liam Northwood continued to deputise in goal for Valley while skipper Nat Blanks moved into the centre of the defence. Jack Sammoutis came into midfield with Paul Semakula and Denzel Gayle starting on the bench.

It wasn’t to be long before the two physios were called onto the field as a nasty looking mid-air collision between Nathan Green and Hayden Skerry left both men flat out – Skerry’s injury resulting in him being substituted before the half hour.

It took 20 minutes for the first significant effort on goal in the game to arrive as Lewis Finney’s shot was smartly saved low down to his right by Northwood. 

Hillians enjoyed the bulk of first pressure without success until they took the lead in bizarre fashion in first half injury time.

A long throw in from the left found the lone head of defender Blanks before beating Northwood down by the post.

The young Valley keeper was again called into action shortly after the restart – pushing away a fierce drive from the dangerous Finney.

It was then the turn of Burgess Hill custodian Will Huffer to grab the limelight – making a superb double save by first denying a shot from Marcel Barrington, then responding well to deny Hassan Ibrahiym’s header from the rebound.

At the other end, Tom Chalaye had a fine chance to extend the visitors lead – shooting narrowly wide after good work by Charlie Kelly on the left.

As Valley pushed forward in an effort to get back in the game, manager Kevin Watson shuffled his pack – utilising all three available substitutions as the clock ticked down.

Sterling-Parker was looking particularly lively –  having claims for a penalty turned down following a challenge on the edge of the box by Connor Tighe, before shooting narrowly wide after being set up by Nathan Green.

Huffer then went on to deny Ibrahiym low down, and an effort from Sammoutis before referee Rhys Battye called time on a fifth home defeat in ten games for Valley.

MILLERS’ STAR MAN: – LIAM NORTHWOOD  –  Kept Valley in the game with several fine saves

MATCH RATING: –  ***

MILLERS : Northwood, Green, Blanks ©, Tumkaya, Sammoutis, Barrington (Sterling-Parker 75), Adeyemo (Gayle 80), Brefo, Warren, Edgar (Babalola 65), Ibrahiym

Substitutes Not Used : Semakula, Lewington

Cautions : Barrington, Green

HILLIANS : Huffer, Moore, Cadman, Tighe, Pollard, Spinks, Harding, Finney, Skerry (Minty 27), Chalaye (Taylor 88), Miller (Kelly 53)

Substitutes Not used: Davies, Cross

Cautions : Minty, Huffer 

Referee     :   Rhys Battye

Assistants :   Daniel Ripton and Philip Jones

Attendance: 155

Pic –  Raheem Sterling-Parker gets a shot away as Valley pile on the late pressure 

Match Photos and Video by Michael Brown – @BSportsphotos

Match Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pTwXlKMBHo