HEATH CUP RUN ENDED

A good game of football ended in heartache for Heath as their interest in the County Cup was ended by a goal in the last minute of extra time, which gave the visiting Eastbourne team victory in a game that Heath deserved to win, watched by a big midweek crowd.

The home team made several changes for various reasons, and gave a debut to young right winger Adam Wright, who throughout the evening grew in confidence and didn't look out of place. From the start the lively Eastbourne forwards looked dangerous and the home team back four knew they would have to be on their toes to cope, which they did admirably, and they also started many of Heath's attacks from deep, displaying their confidence, which has been growing all season, and their skill as well. They all look very comfortable on the ball and their distribution helps the way the team play. Heath had weathered some early pressure before their rhythm was disrupted after 25 minutes when with Dean Pitcher suffering from a strain picked up in the warm up, Geoff Pitcher withdrew himself from the game, forcing the team to reshuffle and to leave Dean on. It took the rest of the first half for Heath to readjust and when they came out for the second half they were ready to take the game to Eastbourne.

From the first whistle Heath pushed forward and created several openings that they were just unable to convert, and they had the Eastbourne defenders and keeper working overtime to keep them out. Mark Beard was denied a stonewall penalty, and Rob Cooper flashed a drive just over the bar, whilst at the other end the Eastbourne centre forward who is the forward for the Eastbourne first team who play in the Ryman League, was being superbly marshaled by Tommy Howes.

On the rare occasions when Howes and Louis Wright were beaten debutant Darren Lehkyj was on hand to display his excellent goalkeeping skills in an impressive debut. Although Heath had the majority of possession they were unable to get the goal they deserved and after a goalless 90 minutes extra time started. Within two minutes of the start of extra time, the Eastbourne left winger took advantage of slight hesitancy in the Heath defense and he managed to get to a long ball first and lift it over the onrushing Lehkyj and it bounced just inside the post for the opening goal.

Heath didn't panic and they carried on playing their normal slick passing game, and nearly equalized when Olly Day fired in from the edge of the box, but the keeper pushed it behind, and from the resulting corner Johnny White got a header in that again was saved. Two minutes before the end of the first half Heath leveled when Luis Freitas drifted in from the right of the area, turned his defender and shot instantly which caught the keeper unawares and he was unable to stop the ball from nestling in the corner of the net. The home team were flying now and after the quick half time break they created several chances, one fantastic run and cross from Mark Beard was met by Freitas, who somehow headed it just the wrong side of the post, and then from the left wing Rob Cooper beat his defender and whipped over a cross that Dean Pitcher was inches away from meeting with his head - a fully fit Deano would surely have made the chance count. At the other end on a rare Eastbourne attack, Tommy Howes got back to clear from off the line after a shot had been half saved by Lehkyj. Then with penalties looming a long ball from the back found the Eastbourne number nine, he held it up and played a slide rule pass through to the left winger who cleverly slotted home the winner with seconds left.

All in all Heath felt they had done enough and had the majority of possession but were just lacking a cutting edge in the final third, so were disappointed but not disheartened at the defeat – a view endorsed by the opposition manager who was very complimentary about the home team.

Team

Lehkyj, White, Wright L, Howes, Watts, Humphries, Pitcher G (Beard 25), Day, Wright A (Mvale 60), Pitcher D, Freitas

Man of the Match

Howes