Despite the absence of the injured David O’Callaghan and Josh Clack, Horsham looked bright from the start and within a minute Louis Masih had a chance to put the home side ahead. Moments later a battling George Hall managed to thread a pass to Lewis Scally whose shot went across the face of the goal, almost finding the far upright.

Burgess Hill gave the young Hornets a reminder of their ability on 6 minutes when it took 2 attempts for Jamie Witham to hang on to a headed attempt but it was the Burgess Hill’s goalkeeper that was next to suffer when he misjudged the bounce of a long ball and was only just able to tip it over the bar.

Hall went very close on 12 minutes when, after fighting with a Hillians defender for the ball, he managed to get a foot to it only for it go inches wide. The 25th minute saw the home side go ahead when Hall sent a gem of a shot from the edge of the area into the top corner, out of the reach of the keeper.

Despite steady pressure Horsham were unable to add to their tally and, after a cross from a short corner went untouched through the Hornets' 6 yard box, a Burgess Hill striker pounced at the far post to pull the tie level.

With the half running out, Sam Bulley came on to replace Zack Gray after he received a bit of a knock whilst challenging for the ball.

Three minutes into the second half a Marcus Collier shot drew a good save from the visiting 'keeper and a minute later Masih was one on one but unable to get a shot away.

The next 5 minutes saw Matt Merridew replace Drew McGill, followed by a reversal of the Bulley-Gray substitution. Half way through the second period Witham was called on to tip a Hillians shot over the bar after their striker managed to avoid two lunging tackles with the resulting corner being cleared easily.

With the game being very open, as both sides tired, the last 10 minutes saw Hall replaced by Matt Mayes and a last minute corner for Horsham resulting in an Aiden Enticknapp half shot narrowly missing the mark.