Hillians gain a point on the road at Merstham

Hillians were without Neil Watts, Lee Denyer, Joe Keehan, Curtis Gayler and Greg Luer from Saturday’s starting XI and skipper Darren Budd and Toby Pointing both remain out injured.

The game started at a quick pace and after seven minutes the lively Aaron Khule powered a shot into the side netting from the left.

Hill took the lead after 12 minutes when Joe Kay put in a cross that Sam Fisk headed down in the box to Pat Harding who found the net with his second attempt for his 21st goal of the season.

The lead only lasted two minutes as former Leatherhead man Tommy Hutchings burst into the box and was brought down by Alan Mansfield as he tried to round the keeper. The referee pointed to the spot, booked Mansfield and Fabio Saraiva smashed home the penalty.

The hosts looked dangerous on the attack and Hill had to remain focused throughout.

After 30 minutes Stuart Tuck had a header go wide from a corner for the visitors and soon after Paul Armstrong put Max Miller through but he drove his shot wide.

Merstham had a couple of chances with Touren Roberts having an effort parried away by Mansfield followerd by defender Liam Harwood who had a shot go just over before the half time whistle went.

The second half was end to end stuff as the game swung both ways.

Saraiva had a shot comfortably saved by Mansfield in the 49th minute and a in the 50th Armstrong had a header saved by home keeper Brannon Daly.

The chances continued with Hutchings and Roberts both having headers go wide.

Recent signing Chris Breach powerfully headed just over from a Joe Kay free kick and soon after Hillians had thought they had got a second goal when Miller flew down the right to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Armstrong to clip the to the far post where the stretching Scott Kirkwood hit the ball onto the post.

Mansfield did well to tip a header over the bar from David Graves following a corner, and then it was Hill’s turn to attack again as Miller had a 25 yard drive parried out for a corner which was the first of three consecutive corners as the Hill rallied.

The final chance fell to Armstrong who shot over from the edge of the box following the keeper punching out sub Gayler’s free kick as neither side could find a winner.

Hillians: Alan Mansfield, Chris Breach, Sam Fisk, Danny Curd, Stuart Tuck (Spencer Slaughter 75), Scott Kirkwood (Curtis Gayler 75), Graham Martin, Paul Armstrong, Joe Kay, Pat Harding, Max Miller.