Top-eight spot is sign that Hurst can hit their target

Eighth place in the Southern Combination division one table is reward for Billingshurst as their form continues to improve.

Saturday brought a 2-1 win at Arundel, courtesy of a goal in each half by Callum Nash and Matthew Mcalpine.

That came after they bounced back to winning ways with high fives against Godalming Town – after having suffered the low fives the previous Saturday. A goal from Sam Bull, one by new signing Alfie Barnes, a double from Harry Smith and a wonder goal from Harry Maynard completed the rout of the Surrey visitors at Jubilee Fields.

No doubt ‘Hurst were boosted by a number of players returning from injury and unavailability that plagued them in Saturday’s 5-1 reverse at Epsom & Ewell – where they had eight ruled out.

It’s been a torrid few weeks for them, tempered by an impressive backs-to-the-wall win over Wick a couple of Tuesdays ago, but with numbers returning there is light at the end of the tunnel in their bid for a topeight finish in division one.

Bull - deployed upfront gave Billingshurst the perfect start against Godalming as he tapped in after following up a ball forward that the goalkeeper missed.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0 as Smith, who was a thorn in Godalming’s side all evening, latched on to a loose ball and smashed a half volley into the far top corner.

Godalming pulled one back on 22 minutes as a ball in from the right was parried into a dangerous area by the returning Andy Barr and Kurt Greenaway tucked the ball away for 2-1.

Just before half-time, Hurst restored their two-goal advantage as Harry Maynard, superb in an anchor role in midfield, collected the ball 30 yards out, took a touch to set himself and sent an dipping effort past the keeper. At the start of the second half, the back three of Ben Tyler, Matt Rendell and Jamie Bennett held out superbly.

A penalty by former Billingshurst man Jahobi Maher was brilliantly saved by Barr.

From there, Hurst pushed on and Bull fed Barnes on the right and he finished neatly, before Smith sent a trademark towering header into the net from a pin-point Maynard free-kick. Smith pickedup two bookings in the closing stages and was sent off.

Coach Ollie Berry said: “This showed what levels we can hit when we’re at our best.”