Report by Steve Cantle

Wallace goes close	Read scores for Fleet

Fleet’s winning touch deserted them on Tuesday night as once again they had to settle for a share of the points in a match they could so easily have won.

It was a strangely out-of-sorts performance by Andy Sinton’s side coming so soon after a fine win against Whyteleafe on Saturday. But with most of the leading Ryman sides winning, the single point was not enough to retain the league top spot.

Sinton’s selection problems mounted ahead of the game, and although both defender, Steve Hemmings and striker, Ed Smith returned from suspension, out were midfielders Darren Campbell (broken nose), Phil John (suspension) and Michael Douglas, whose military duties made him unavailable. Keeper, Justin Gray was still nursing a thumb injury.

Sinton was therefore forced to name a weakened mid-field, with Paul Read, scorer of the winner on Saturday, making his first start at number 8.

Fleet started slowly and for the whole of the first-half struggled to exert any control on the game. The side’s trademark passing game was missing, as time after time they lost possession to a lively Burgess Hill side. They did however create the first chance of the half, James Field launching a powerful 20 yard drive in the 10th minute, which was palmed round the upright by Hillians’ keeper, Andre Foster.

The visitors were enjoying greater possession and looked to have opened the scoring in the 19th minute. But a fine save by Smith kept out a powerful close-range shot from striker, Ashley Jarvis,

Fleet’s defence also looked hesitant at times, and the visitors threatened from several set-pieces and long throw-ins. In the end the pressure paid off for the visitors, when in the 35th minute, Hillians’ Nick Fogden fired in from a corner.

Five minutes later the scores were back level when the Burgess Hill defence failed to clear a cross from Fleet’s Nathan Smart. Read was on hand to force the ball over the line from a knock-down by Steve Noakes. A few minutes later, Noakes then saw his perfectly-judged header well-saved by Foster, following a corner.

After the interval neither side managed to dominate, producing little in the way of opportunities to score. The only chance of the half fell to Fleet; striker, Adam Wallace failing to hit the target when clean through on Foster.

Sinton will be hoping for more of his squad to be available for Saturday’s trip to Met Police, another side, like Burgess Hill that Fleet have never beaten. The match kicks off at Imber Court At 3pm.