Hill Hold Firm to Beat Carshalton
Despite a late fightback, Burgess Hill held firm to secure a 2–1 win over Carshalton Athletic at Colston Avenue on Monday night.
Carshalton made three changes to the side that lost 2–0 at Whitehawk on Saturday. Sankoh and Bradford returned to the starting XI, along with Parish Muirhead, who was back after international duty, having started both of Grenada’s wins against the British Virgin Islands and Cuba.
It was the visitors who started the brighter. Chris Whelpdale had a shot in the opening minute that deflected onto the post and away. Soon after, Carshalton keeper Matt Kerbey had a nervy moment when he gave the ball away, but recovered well to tip Ben Pope’s effort around the post for a corner.
Despite enjoying a decent share of possession, Carshalton struggled to create clear chances. They did have the ball in the net through Ladapo, but the linesman had already raised his flag for offside.
Burgess Hill responded with chances of their own. First, Jack Meeres drove forward and crossed towards George Vorster. The winger, who scored in the reverse fixture, looked to square it to Ben Pope, but Luke Read recovered brilliantly with a last-ditch tackle to keep the score level. Moments later, Whelpdale struck a powerful effort on target, but Kerbey was well positioned to save.
Carshalton then had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Meeres under-hit a back pass to Alfie Mansell, allowing Korboa to nip in and go one-on-one with the keeper – but his effort rolled just wide of the far post.
It proved costly. Minutes later, Burgess Hill took the lead. Whelpdale found space down the right and whipped a dangerous cross to the back post, where Martyn Box met it first-time with his left foot to fire home. A deserved lead for the visitors, and one they held onto going into the break.
Things went from bad to worse for the Robins early in the second half. Ben Pope was pulled down in the box by Josh Shonibare, prompting the referee to award a penalty – and show a red card to the Carshalton right-back, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Whelpdale stepped up and confidently slotted the penalty to Kerbey’s right,
sending the keeper the wrong way and doubling Burgess Hill’s lead.
With a mountain to climb, Carshalton introduced Sanchez Ming for Tommy Bradford to restore balance to their ten-man side. And with 15 minutes to go, the Robins found a lifeline. Luke Read was brought down in the area and, with regular penalty taker Bradford off, it was Ming who stepped up. He coolly sent Mansell the wrong way to halve the deficit and set up a tense finale.
The atmosphere at Colston Avenue lifted, with the 451-strong crowd roaring the Robins on. With 10 minutes remaining, Salami and Korboa combined well down the left, with Korboa flashing a shot just over the bar.
Burgess Hill had the chance to seal the win in the 86th minute when Box delivered a cross to substitute Vukoje, but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Carshalton pushed for an equaliser, with Salami in particular using his pace to stretch the Burgess Hill defence.
But the visitors stood firm, defending resolutely to see out the win and exact revenge for the Robins’ victory at Leylands Park three weeks earlier.
The result moves Burgess Hill above Carshalton into 8th place, while the Robins drop to 12th. It’s back to the drawing board for Carshalton, who return to Colston Avenue on Saturday to host Hashtag United in another Isthmian league fixture.
Up Next
Date: Saturday 18th October 2025
Opponents: Hashtag United
Competition: Isthmian Premier League
KO: 3pm
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Admissions: Here
