TYLER Hayhurst showed that if at first you don’t succeed then why not try again.
The Mill Hill striker’s shoot-on-sight policy finally paid off when he cracked home an unstoppable late winner - and a jubilant Hayhurst was happy to silence touchline gru-mblings.
Voices were raised as Hayhurst opted to go it alone rather than pick out a team-mate - but in fairness he did force Nathan Abbott in to two good saves then curled an effort just wide.
But his late goal sealed a dramatic turnaround by Mill Hill who had trailed 2-0 at one stage and were outplayed by a classy Belvedere side in the first half.
There was controversy in the ope-ning minutes when a shot from Belvedere’s Ryan Black from a Nick Anderton cross appeared to have crossed the line but the referee was having none of it.
But Black had his own answer to goal-line technology by scoring two goals. First he applied the finishing touch when Anderton’s raking cross was touched back in to his path by Callum Rainey.
Then Tom Ormerod’s long throw was nodded in to the path of Black who scored from close range.
Black was superb in the opening exchanges, flashing one shot just wide and causing Mill Hill skipper Ez Odudu all sorts of problems.
Mill Hill responded with Oliver Jackson and Wayne Skinner comb-ining to free Curtley Mulcrone whose shot was blocked.
From the resulting corner, Zac Robinson heading against the foot of the post.
Robinson was then in the right place to deny Anderton a shot on goal after more good work by Black.
Crucially for Mill Hill, they pulled a goal back just before the break when Hayhurst had a shot blocked on the line from Brayden Shaw’s corner before Mulcrone fired home the lose ball.
Buoyed by the breakthrough and the wind in their favour, Mill Hill were a different proposition after the break.
Hayhurst, who was no playing in a deeper midfield role, forced Abbott to tip around the post.
Shaw, Daniel Rutherford and Hayhurst again all went close before Mill Hill drew level, Mulcrone’s centre from the right swept home by Rutherford. Belverdere could hardly get out of their half but when they did, they showed they still possessed a threat.
The impressive Black fired just over the bar and Anderton’s low shot forced Scott Grant to save at the second attempt.
With extra time looming, Hay-hurst opted to try his luck one more time and this time it was perfect as his blistering drive flew in to the top corner.
n Mill Hill Scott Grant, Oliver Jackson, Danny Toner, Ez Odudu, Jordan Duckworth, Tyler Hayhurst, Anthony Kirby, Brayden Shaw, Curtley Mulcrone, Zac Robinson, Wayne Skinner. Subs: Daniel Rutherford, Aaron Butterworth.
n Burnley Belvedere Nathan Abbott, Danny Turner, Will Irvine, Liam Stacey, Alex Campbell, Phil Coates, Callum Rainey, Tom Ormerod, Ryan Black, Nick Anderton, Dom Egan. Subs: Ash Newman, Danny Sumner, Bailey Moore, Eddie Duckworth.
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