HEATH FALTER

Heath struggled in their penultimate league match of the season when they saw their long unbeaten run under Matty Beard come to a disappointing end, just when they didn't want it to, as they lost 2-1 to a team they had beaten twice already this season.

Credit has to go to Saltdean who from the first whistle were "up" for the game, possibly because Heath had beaten them in the cup semi final, and they were in the mood to extract some revenge for their defeat in that game. Heath weren't on top form and didn't really get their fluent fast passing game going, and after Chris Turner had pulled off yet another fantastic save this season when left facing a one on one chance, and he had saved the rebound at point blank range, Heath broke and fed Rob Cooper who raced down the centre of the pitch, and as the keeper came out, Coops confidently stroked the ball home to give Heath a lead after 30 minutes. Unfortunately the lead was short lived as a harsh looking free kick was awarded 25 yards from goal, and the Saltdean forward scored with a superb strike into the top corner to send the teams in level at half time.

The second half saw Heath with more of the ball and they created a couple of excellent chances, the first when Ian Breeds was played in by a superb Kevin Cooper ball but the keeper smothered it, and then Cooper himself was through just outside the box with only the keeper to beat, but instead of hitting the back of the net the ball somehow cleared the bar – although apparently there was a nasty bobble. The missed chances came back to haunt Heath when they had an attack broken up and a long ball was chased down by the centre forward who cut the pass back for a colleague to score Saltdean's second goal that 15 minutes later proved to be the winner as Heath were unable to convert any other chances.

The result was not what Heath wanted and takes their promotion fate out of their hands now, all they can do is win their last match away at Newhaven this coming Saturday and then keep fingers crossed and hope other teams can do them a favour by taking points from the other promotion contenders.

Team

Turner, White, Wright L, Howes, Humphries, Beard, Day, Cooper R, Freitas (A Wright 75), Cooper K, Breeds

Man of the Match

Cooper R