Brave United go down fighting

BURGESS HILL ASHFORD UTD Ashford gave Burgess Hill a fright before bowing out of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Nuts and Bolts were out to cause an upset against the Hillians, who play two levels above them in the Ryman League, Premier Division.

Danny Lye’s Southern Counties East side were looking good for a first qualifying round replay until the hosts broke the deadlock through Tyrell Richardson-Brown’s header after 76 minutes.

Substitute Dan Thompson doubled the lead four minutes later, finishing smartly after a neat run.

But Ashford weren’t done and Shaun Welford set up a tense finish by pulling a goal back on 83 minutes.

Ashford threw everything at Burgess Hill in a bid to force a replay but they held out to set up a trip to Southern League Kempston Rovers in the second qualifying round.

The tie had been pretty tight before the last 15 minutes.

Ashford enjoyed more of the ball in the first half, with Ryan Palmer a threat out wide and testing keeper Josh James with several crosses.

But the Hillians, ninth in the Ryman League, grew into the game and saw Pat Harding and Sam Gargan shots blocked on the line before the break.

Ashford made the better start to the second half, former England Schoolboys international Josh Woolley through on goal, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. The Nuts and Bolts continued to knock at the door and if it hadn’t been for Hill centre-half Chieck Toure, they may well have been celebrating at full-time.

Kamurasi, Savage, Woolley, Michelson, West, Dickens, Palmer, Davisson, Welford, Ince (Eldridge 71mins), Hill. Subs not used: Fagg, Dalton, Booth, Lye, McLeod.

365.

Picture: Alan Coomes Burgess Hill keeper Josh James makes a point blank save to deny Ashford in the dying moments