Barker praises youngsters after Proctor and Clarke braces notch up 5-0 victory
Two first half goals by Jamie Proctor were added to after the break with two more by Billy Clarke plus an own goal.
The first half featured all first team professionals while a change around in the second half saw a completely different line-up finish the game including some first teamers, triallists and youth team players.
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Hide AdJames Hurst and Joe Walsh were welcomed back from injury and played the first half while injured striker Jonte Smith watched from the stand, using crutches after damaging his ankle last weekend against Millwall.
Manager Richie Barker praised youth player Malachi Robinson for an impressive display at left back in the second half.
He supplied superb crosses from the left wing which set up two goals after the break, both sharply put away by Clarke, the second with a spectacular diving header.
Barker said: “I thought Malachi did really well, he’ve proving to be quite useful for us. He can play left back, right back, he’s got a decent attitude, he’s a good athlete so he’s doing OK, as is Bradley Isaacs who’s slotted in very well as well.”
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Hide AdProctor gave Reds the lead after 20 minutes with a tap-in goal after good work down the right from Sergio Torres.
Kyle McFadzean showed plenty of pace following his comeback from a virus with a sprint down the right on the break but could not find his target at the end of it.
Danny Curd went well wide of the mark with a long-range shot for Hill, while Torres forced keeper Alan Mansfield to make a catch from a high bouncing ball.
Proctor showed good trickery and tight-turning skill to score Crawley’s second goal just before half-time.
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Hide AdIn the second half Clarke was denied an early third goal by Mansfield but soon made amends with a first time strike from Robinson’s pass.
Triallist Jordan Adekunle had a good effort go wide while Hillians’ Greg Luer lifted a free-kick over the bar.
Reds went 4-0 up through an extraordinary back pass under pressure by Tom Graves from outside the area which beat Mansfield and squeezed inside his own net.
Finally Clarke rounded the game off with a diving headed goal from a great delivery by Malachi on the left.
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Hide AdBarker gave praise to both his own players and to Burgess Hill for the way they played.
He said: “I thought we played well. It was important for us to score a few goals and I’m pleased we came through unscathed without injury.
“It was good for all the players to get a run around, especially the youngsters in the second half, I thought they performed well.
“The pitch was not ideal due to the warm weather but the players got on with it extremely well. Their attitude was fantastic.
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Hide Ad“I liked the way Burgess Hill played the ball out from the back and kept it really well. Fair play to them, it must have been tough chasing the lads about in this weather.”
REDS (1st half): Jonathan Maddison, Mat Sadler, Kyle McFadzean, Joe Walsh, Mark Connolly, Sergio Torres, Dannie Bulman, Josh Simpson, Andy Drury, Jamie Proctor, Gary Alexander.
(2nd half): Paul Jones, James Hurst, Connor Essam, Alex Malins, Malachi Robinson, Mike Jones, Nicky Adams, Jordan Adekunle, Bradley Isaacs, Abdul Adgebola, Billy Clarke, Fawado Tope
Hill (1st half): Alan Mansfield, Toby Pointing, Sam Fisk, Darren Budd, Max Lake-Edwards, Stuart Tuck, Richard Greenfield, Pat Harding, Danny Curd, Ryan Thomson, Spencer Slaughter
(2nd half): Tom Graves, Max Miller, Max Howell, Greg Luer, Jack Pettit, Brandon Massey
ATTENDANCE: 341