HEATH RETURN TO ACTION AND GAIN 3 VITAL POINTS

Heath finally returned to action with their first League game for over a month and although the performance wasn't one of their best, they did enough to get three valuable points against an Ifield outfit that proved their league position was misleading as they provided a good test for the rusty home team.

From the start Heath were pushing forward and looking for goals however their passing game was slightly off, but they still managed to create several chances none of which were converted, although Louie Wright came close with a header that flashed past the post and Dean Pitcher just steered a shot narrowly wide after being put through. Eventually the pressure told as Geoff Pitcher showed his class when the Ifield centre half misjudged a ball and Pitcher wrong footed the keeper as he passed the ball into the net. Heath tried to build on the lead but either the final ball wasn’t quite good enough, or the shooting was off target, and Ifield nearly equalized but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside. In the last minute of the first half Heath nearly doubled their lead when Louie Wright again found space in the box but he smashed his shot over the bar due to a bad bobble apparently.

The second half was more of the same with Heath making numerous chances and not converting any of them. Meanwhile the Ifield forwards when they attacked were being well contained by the Heath back four who again were very good with debutant Steve Watts looking comfortable and composed. Up front the Heath midfield were pushing on to support the strikers and Mark Beard could have had a couple of goals but couldn't hit the target, and then the returning Lee Skinner came on and couldn't quite convert a couple of half chances.

All in all Heath were happy with the points and will look to build on this in their next league game which is on Saturday 8th February as they entertain Dorking Wanderers at Hanbury Stadium with a 2.30pm kick off, everyone is welcome with under 16s watching for free.

Team

Turner, Humphries, Wright, Howes, Watts, White, Day, Beard, Mvale (Frietas 70), Pitcher G, Pitcher D (Skinner 70)

Man of the Match

Humphries