If Chichester City United manager, Adie Girdler, regarded the visit of Burgess Hill as a half-term test of his teams credentials he must surely have been left with the message that his side is still some way short of the standard.

Burgess Hill appear to be in a different class this term with a big squad of the best players in Sussex cruising to another County League title. It doesn't make for a close or interesting contest but Chi contributed to their own defeat with some fragile defending.

Chi's basic tactical set up is two frontrunners backed by four predominantly attacking midfield players. That inevitably leaves their defence exposed by teams with pace and mobility in their front line and the Hillians know how to exploit their opponents limitations.

The lessons were all there; the Hillians defended well when they had to and punished slack work at the other end. In fact when they scored with their first attack in the seventh minute it was virtually all over. And the goal was the simplest imaginable with Harper breaking out of defence to cross to an unmarked Ashley Carr at the far post. 1-0.

Lee Preston saved Chi with a string of saves before Harper capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute and five minutes later Richard Carter pulled the ball back from the by-line for Carr to add a third through a forest of legs.

The Hillians appeared to drop down a gear in the second half and Chi pushed forward with visiting goalkeeper, Pat Gannon, saving with his feet from both Jamie Laidlaw and Roger Moore. Encouraged by some pressure on the away goal Chi pushed forward further and eventually paid the price as Burgess Hill grabbed three goals in the last six minutes to leave their hosts reeling and shellshocked.

Carter added the fourth and as Chi optimistically pushed even further forward seeking a consolation, substitute Clinton Moore struck twice.

Report written by Trevor Wallis for the Chichester Observer

Team: Preston, Osborne, Champion, Matt Smith, Fitt, Stephens, Cowie, Thomas, Moore, Laidlaw, Chandler
Subs: Angell, Bickle, Brown
Scorers: