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Blues find their thrill at Burgess Hill – report added

RYAN Charles was on target twice as Blues picked up their first three points of 2019 with a dominant performance at Burgess Hill.

The result moved Stortford up to 12th place in the Bostik Premier table, six points off the play-offs.

The visitors were control from kick-off with Ben Worman forcing an early corner before they took a 12th minute lead.

A great through ball from Mark Haines to Jamie Cureton saw the veteran striker lay it off to Luke Callander. His initial shot was saved by the keeper but Charles reacted first to fire home the rebound.

Charles, Cureton and Callander all went close to doubling that lead as the Blue Brazil dominated the early play, and although James Rance had the hosts’ first effort it didn’t trouble Stortford keeper Arthur Janata as it flew over the bar.

Callandar continued to terrorise the Hillians’ defence, firing over in the 29th minute before getting the ball in the net shortly after only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.

Hill went close to levelling immediately before the break when Janata saved a long range effort from Marco Correira.

Nathan Livings replaced Jack Thomas early in the second half, and Worman was unluky not to double Blues’ lead as his shot from the left hit a post.

But it was Charles who doubled the lead on the hour mark when a corner was chipped back into the box and “Spider” was on hand to head home from close range.

It was all over two minutes later as Blues hit the hosts on the counter attack after a corner and the impressive Worman dribbled from his own half and beat two defenders before slotting past Josh James in the home goal.

A triple substitution from the home side made little difference as both Cureton and Charles had chances to add a fourth goal, and Cureton was desperately unlucky not to add to 17 goals as he had three efforts in the dying minutes.

Blues: A Janata, B Sampayo, C Gregan, J Thomas (N Livings 55), S Robbins, M Haines, B Worman , J Renee, J Cureton, L Callander (Miles 76), R Charles (A Warman). Unused subs: H Kyprianou, A Miles

Att: 325