Fleet's new found confidence was dented on Saturday, after they failed to get on top of a young Burgess Hill side.
It was a case of missed chances for Fleet after dominating for most of the first 25 minutes. But after the Sussex side went ahead with goals on 27 minutes and again, three minutes before half-time, it was always an uphill struggle for Fleet, after weather conditions deteriorated.
Manager, Paul Holden was forced to make two changes to his side that had won so convincingly at Molesey before Christmas. With defender Neil Morant and mid-fielder, Phil Archbold unavailable, Holden brought back Tony Millerick and Gary Connolly, both fit again after injury.
Fleet started confidently despite playing into a strong wind, and soon both front-men, Lee Paul and Josh Francois were posing problems for the home defences. From both corners and free-kicks, some creative play created chances, but each time the Burgess Hill back-line managed to scramble to ball away. Defender, Steve Riley went close from one such move, and an even better chance fell to sub, Chris Haddow, but he shot wide.
Haddow had come on after only 14 minutes, replacing a hobbling Andy Sinton, following a clash with Burgess Hill skipper, Leo Day.
Then disaster struck for Fleet in the 27th minute, when, against the run of play, mid-fielder, Steve Harper was presented with an easy chance, following a fast break out from the Burgess Hill defence.
The home side then extended their lead just before half-time when a quickly-taken free kick was tapped home by Matt Geard.
With the weather conditions deteriorating during the break, it was then an uphill struggle for Fleet, against a packed Burgess Hill defence.
Fleet continued to press but despite plenty of possession, they couldn't break through. Connolly went close with one long-range effort, and Riley again just missed with another.
