HEATH STUN LEADERS

On the hottest Saturday of this short summer, and in their first away match, Heath came away with their first three points of the season after inflicting the first loss of the season on table topping Dorking, in a game where the visitors were the better side and created the better chances throughout.

After the first 5 minutes where the hosts were in the Heath half without really threatening, the Heath midfield started to dominate and put some slick passing movements together. Cooper on the left was always available and the links between him Beard and Day suggest good things ahead for Heath as the season progresses. The first such move of this match was after 8 minutes and after hitting the left byline, Cooper's cross was met by a leaping Day who nodded just past the post. It was a warning for Dorking that they ignored and they were under pressure with Clark causing problems with his direct running and pace and he had an early shot after beating a couple of defenders that was just wide. Then after 15 minutes the ball was played just behind the Dorking back four, who had chosen to play a high offside line, and while they berated their own linesman for not flagging, Skinner latched onto the ball, calmly drew the keeper before dummying him one way and going the other before tapping into the empty net for the first Heath goal. Almost before the Heath celebrations were over there was a huge mix up between their centre halves and keeper but the goal bound shot was magnificently cleared by a sliding McMenemy off the line. Heath responded well with Clark setting off on a slaloming run past defenders, and from 25 yards his curling left foot shot was heading for the bottom corner off the net until the Dorking keeper made a great save just getting his fingertips to it to turn it round the post to concede the corner when the skill deserved a goal.

The game was end to end despite the heat, but the difference was the main attacking threat from Dorking was the long punt from their keeper, whilst Heath were much happier playing their more cultured passing game. Skinner followed his booking with a charge at goal but couldn't quite get his shot off, then he played Beard in to the box but he couldn't quite get the power needed to get it past the keeper which leaves him still looking for his first goal of the season. Clark was enjoying playing up front and showed great skill as he controlled a hard driven ball first time and smashed a shot just wide from 25 yards. Dorking responded before half time by having a series of corners and half chance around and in the Heath box, but White, Wright and McMenemy were dealing brilliantly with the skillful Dorking attackers on the floor with Kelly dealing with the ariel threat. Anything that got past them was snuffed out by the impressive Turner having his usual excellent game and at half time the score was still one nil.

Dorking flew into attack at the start of the second half following their half time chat from their manager, and after 5 minutes of the half a loose ball was picked up in midfield, worked out to the Dorking right and a long cross was met by the unmarked winger who stooped low to head the equalizer. Dorking pressed forward and within a couple of minutes a forward was through ten yards from goal but Turner stood tall and made a fantastic save from point blank range to deny him. This sparked Heath into a response and again Cooper, with some 'encouragement' from the home crowd, and Clark were running at the tiring Dorking defenders who were conceding free kicks and bookings on a regular basis. From one Mcmenemy free kick, Kelly rose highest at the far post but narrowly headed over with the visiting fans already celebrating the goal - but he had just put the ball over. The game moved into the last 5 minutes and Heath were the stronger, another attack led to a corner, and from the Beard delivery Wright met it with a sweet right foot cross shot that the keeper did well to save and it was hacked away for another corner. This was a carbon copy of what had just happened except this time Clark capped a superb all round performance with a great first time shot on the turn that rocketed past the Dorking keeper into the back of the net. This time Heath concentrated after scoring and made sure that they played out the rest of the game to give themselves a significant victory and a valuable three points.

Team

Turner, White, Wright, Kelly, McMenemy, Lares (sub Humphries 65), Beard, Day, Cooper, Clark, Skinner

Man of the Match

Clark