SOLID TEAMWORK SECURES 3 POINTS FOR HEATH

Heath produced a solid performance of all round teamwork, where the whole side worked very hard for each other against a resilient Rottingdean team that resulted in another three hard won points being gained.

The match started in unseasonal glorious sunny weather and Rottingdean were on the attack to create the first chance with a ball pulled back from the goal line to the onrushing forward who knocked it wide of the post. Heath responded by playing Dean Pitcher in and he beat a couple of players as he moved into the penalty area, and then was fouled. The referee declined the correct penalty appeals and instead to the chagrin of Heath players and supporters gave a free kick that was smashed over the bar by Luis Freitas. The home side continued to control the game and within minutes had another appeal for a penalty turned down after a slick passing interchange had enabled Cafu White to get to the byline and cross into the area where it was controlled by a Rottingdean player, Heath claimed he had used his hand, before being cleared from the danger area. The next attack was again down the right with another great cross from Cafu White that was controlled by Geoff Pitcher in the area to the left of goal. He played a neat one two with Olly Day and he cross shot was saved but not held by the Rottingdean keeper, unfortunately Dean Pitcher was unable to turn in the rebound.

Mark Beard was unceremoniously dumped on the floor by a nasty challenge from Rottingdean's best player Ross Smith, who was booked and Beard then responded by hitting the bar with a corner which deceived the visiting keeper. At the other end a rare Rottingdean attack led to a superb cross that spelt danger to Heath, but Tommy Howes who has been growing in stature and performing consistently well as the season has progressed, produced a decisive diving clearance to knock the ball behind the goal - although everyone was worried as it was very close to being an amazing own goal! At half time however it was still goalless.

Heath got into their stride quickly in the second half and continued pressing for the goal they wanted and Rottingdean were being pushed into some desperate last ditch tackles that were saving them, but in the course of this they were given a couple of bookings for unfair challenges. An hour had passed when from a Beard corner Louie Wright rose highest and just nodded past the post as Heath turned up the pressure. Five minutes later, another corner was taken by Mark Beard, this time from the left hand side. He hit it short to the near post and Olly Day lost his marker and timed his run to perfection to meet the ball and gleefully volley it into the net to give Heath the lead. The home side was now looking for the second goal and Dean Pitcher made ground down the right and crossed towards Ant Humphries who had made a good run into the box, but the Rottingdean keeper just got there in front of him to claim the ball. Clark, following his return from injury, was then brought on to replace Luis Freitas and he immediately had a cross deflected out for a corner, which was taken short and then the cross was half cleared to Louie Wright who met it perfectly with a rasping drive that was heading goalwards (he claims) until it unfortunately hit Dean Pitcher and deflected away from danger.

Rottingdean had to try and equalise as time was running out and they started pressing Heath back but were unable to create any clear cut chances, until White and Wright decided to leave a bouncing ball to each other to deal with. The visiting forward controlled the ball and burst between the two Heath players and from 8 yards blasted a fierce shot low towards the near post of the Heath goal. The shot demanded a high class save and once again Chris Turner, who has been outstanding all season, reacted instantly and produced a fabulous save low down to his right to push the ball behind for a corner when Rottingdean were convinced they had struck. Nothing came from the corner, but a couple of minutes later a shot was drilled from 25 yards towards Turner's left hand post, and again the ace Heath keeper produced a full length dive to save and hold on to the tricky bouncing ball in order to preserve the clean sheet. Minutes later the final whistle blew and Heath could look back on a deserved victory that was gained through every player working hard for their team.

This Saturday Heath are away in the league to current table toppers Uckfield Town.

Team

Turner, White, Wright, Howes, McMenemy, Freitas (Clarke 70), Day, Beard, Humphries, G. Pitcher, D. Pitcher

Man of the Match

Day - but this was a team performance.