HEATH TURN ON STYLE

The much anticipated local derby kicked off in glorious sunshine. In the absence of Humphries, Wright was appointed captain for the day. Notable absentees for HH were Clark and Kelly. A debut was given to new boy Dean Pitcher starting in midfield.

HH started brightly with a long ball from McMenemy finding Skinner who was promptly fouled by a defender. The back four of HH were looking solid despite early pressure from Hurst. Skinner was then found by another accurate long ball, which he tried to bend round the keeper but narrowly missed the left hand post. A corner was then awarded to HH but was headed over.

In the thirteenth minute HH went ahead when the Hurst goalkeeper failed to hold a shot which broke to Day who promptly stuck the ball in the net to give HH a well earned lead. Some more sustained HH pressure resulted on a heavy tackle on Skinner with a large shout for a penalty but the referee was having none of it.

Good interpassing between White and Skinner led to another near miss. With about thirty minutes played, during sustained pressure from HH, the Hurst goalkeeper harassed by Skinner, failed to clear the ball which ended up at the feet of new boy Pitcher who shot down the left side and unleashed a fierce drive that ended up in the back of the net to give HH a two goal lead.

For a time Hurst tried to mount some pressure on HH but the back four of White, Howes, Wright and Mc Menemy were solid in the defence. HH then had a good spell of attacking football with Pitcher combining well with Wright who saw his shot sail over the bar. Hurst were now pinned back in their own half with some desperate defending Another good move between White and Skinner led to Skinner heading narrowly over.

Hurst were back into the game and a long range effort was well saved by Turner in the HH goal. A Hurst defender was then booked for a silly trip on Louis Freitas who, when combining with Mc Menemy was causing many problems on the left. A near miss from a header by Hurst was one of a couple of chances the home team failed to convert Just before the half time whistle, Baird combined neatly with Skinner who placed the ball neatly into the Hurst goal to put HH three ahead at the interval.

The second half followed the same pattern with HH playing all the football and Hurst relying on the occasional breakaway or set piece. A good one two between White and Skinner resulted in a weak shot which did not trouble the goalkeeper. After the fast and furious first half it took some time for HH to get back into their stride The HH back four were playing solidly as a defensive unit and never looked troubled.

With both White and Mc Menemy marauding up the wings linking up well with Louis Freitas and Skinner things looked good for HH. Then a push in the HH box resulted in a penalty to Hurst but once again Turner produced a great save to deny Hurst their opening goal. A change now saw Entiknapp replacing Skinner who had one of his better games. Another chance for HH saw Beard toe-poke a nice through ball on to the left hand post and out, but the fourth goal was soon quick in coming. Entiknapp turned on a sixpence!! and hammered the ball in from about twenty two yards much to the disgust of the home support, to give the visitors a four goal lead.

This was the final score despite some missed chances late on from Hurst, and some good saves from Turner in HH goal. A very competent all round team performance from Haywards Heath probably the best team performance this season.

Team

Turner, White, Howes, Wright, McMenemy, Cooper, Day, Beard, Freitas, Pitcher, Skinner (Enticknap 70)

Man of the Match

McMenemy