Burgess Hill Town lose 2-0 to Brentwood on opening day

Brentwood kicked off the 2026-27 campaign with a victory over Burgess Hill.

Both sides produced a few chances in the opening minutes, with an effort by Bradley Sach kept out by the Hillians' backline.

Benas Vaivada then won a free-kick after he was brought down just outside the area by Hamish Morrison.

The resulting effort was whipped in by Max Hudson but cleared.

The visitors began a good spell of possession.

Joel Daly flicked a delivery across goal which was cleared, before a dangerous breakaway from Luther Williams won a corner.

A shot from distance by Daly went inches over the crossbar before an effort at the back post by Matt Cripps was knocked wide at the other end of the field.

On the stroke of half-time, the Blues broke the deadlock.

Sach tapped home an inch-perfect cross which came in from a free-kick by Charlee Adams to open the scoring.

Williams received a yellow card after taking down Vaivada, while Mikey Berry's powerful shot from the edge of the box was denied by the gloves of Roco Rees and tipped out for a corner.

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Jesse Olukolu came close to doubling the Blues' lead when Sach played a well-weighted pass into his path, but a block by the Hillians' defence denied his effort from close range.

In the 83rd minute, substitute Nat Mardell found Brentwood's second.

Olukolu did well to advance beyond the backline and floated a lovely delivery into Mardell, who guided his effort into the back of the net.

STAR MAN: Nat Mardell (Brentwood)