HEATH RUN RIOT IN LOCAL DERBY

A rampant Heath made it thirteen goals at Hanbury in a week as they thumped eight past Hurstpierpoint in the local derby, to boost their goal difference as they moved into second place in the table. The crowd on a sunny Saturday was certainly given good value for money, as apart from the opening fifteen minutes when Heath struggled to create anything, the home team combined slick passing, great off the ball movement and good finishing outclassing their opponents throughout the game.

After fifteen minutes Kevin Cooper scored his first goal for the club as he collected the ball with his back to goal just outside the box, a quick turn and precision finish and Heath were in front, and from then on created plenty of chances at regular intervals. Although Hurst occasionally made advances the Heath back four of Johnny White, Dave Moores, Tommy Howes and Ant Humphries coped with anything that was thrown at them, and they were all comfortable on the ball and were able to start many moves from deep. Behind them Darren Lehkyj in goal is proving a great asset, and although he didn't have much to do he made one great save and constantly organized the players in front of him and his distribution was excellent. At the other end of the pitch, Olly Day showed his heading prowess as he met a Mark Beard corner to make it two, and shortly before half time Dean Pitcher showed that like his strike partner Cooper, he too can turn a defender and bury the shot as he made it three nil.

As the second half started Heath started using the full width of the pitch to stretch the tiring Hurst defense and within six minutes of the restart, Luis Freitas continued his run of classy performances with a neatly taken goal before Olly Day scored the fifth with a carbon copy of his first half goal as he headed home a Beard corner. This was the cue for Heath to ring the changes as substitutions were made which lifted the pressure from the Hurst goal for a short time, before the sixth was scored as Cooper and Pitcher demonstrated their quick feet and quick thinking as they played a couple of short one two's to slice through the mesmerized defenders, before a despairing lunge from one of them sent the ball past his own keeper. Johnny White smashed home the seventh and then Cooper got his second of the afternoon with a composed finish. There was still time for Cooper to try and get his hat trick, but he was unable to get the third goal he needed and when he was through at the end, the final whistle was blown denying him again.

Heath were delighted with the victory as they now continue their promotion push with four games away from Fortress Hanbury through March, starting next Saturday when they are at Rottingdean Village 3.15pm kick off.

Team

Lehkyj, White, Moores, Howes, Humphries (65 Watts), Wright, Day (Breeds 50), Beard (Mvale 60), Frietas (Breeds 65), Pitcher D, Cooper K

Man of the Match

Howes