LATE COOPER STRIKE WINS THE POINTS

Fingernails were spared when a Kevin Cooper strike turned one point into a massive three points as his goal in the last minute of normal time gave Heath the win they wanted in a game that showed Ifield's position at the bottom of the table was false as they pushed Heath all the way.

The game seemed very flat, but in the first 25 minutes Heath were knocking the ball around very well and created several good chances that could have sealed the game. Dean Pitcher had a couple of one on ones with the Ifield keeper but his confidence seems a bit low at the moment as he didn't really strike the ball well and dragged both wide of the goal with the keeper not needing to save. Rob Cooper then was played in down the right and after beating a defender he hesitated and his shot again went wide. At the other end the Heath back four were not very busy as the Ifield through balls were not giving their strikers much of a chance and Chris Turner was commanding in everything he did.

The second half saw Ifield creating more, although again the better chances were Heath's, but again the finishing touches were sadly lacking. The nearest to a goal was when a Ifield free kick hit Johnny White and looped over Chris Turner, and fortunately landed on top of the net. Lee Newman came on as Heath looked to win the game, and his pace unsettled the tiring Ifield players and they started to defend deeper and deeper. Eventually with time ticking away Rob Cooper combined with John White and when the cross came in it wasn’t cleared and Kevin Cooper pounced to smash it home and with it seal the points, much to the delight of the visiting players and fans!

There was no time for Ifield to respond as Heath closed out the injury time with the highlight being a mazy run from young Adam Wright were he took on the whole of the Ifield defence and nearly got through them before he was crowded out. Shortly after that the final whistle blew and three more hard earned points were in the bank for Heath as they continue their recent good form and they stay second in the table and they are looking for more League points this Saturday 21st March when they are away against Intermediate Cup Finalists Bosham with a 3.00pm kick off.

Team

Turner, White, Wright, Howes, Humphries, Day, Beard, Frietas, Cooper R, Pitcher D (Newman 65), Cooper K (Wright A 90)

Man of the Match

Day