HEATH WILT IN VASE

Heath travelled to Croydon arena for their first, and last, game in this seasons FA Vase, and they came away having lost by four goals although that didn't really truly reflect the way the game went.

Yet again Heath started slowly and were made to pay within 6 minutes when from a free kick on their right the ball was played and a Croydon player rose highest to nod home. This prompted Croydon to attack more and Chris Turner in goal and centre half Tommy Howes were shining as they were kept busy. Ant Humphries got in on the act when clearing off the Heath line, and then a misguided header allowed the Croydon centre forward to head towards goal at speed. Howes forced him wider, stood his ground then timed his tackle to snuff out the danger. Rob Cooper then made a superb jinking run down the byline, but his pull back was just cleared, then at the other end Howes again produced textbook defending to deny another goal scoring opportunity. Heath ended the half strongly with Daley Clark holding the ball, playing in Louis Freitas who advanced at speed and whipped in a great cross which Cooper met with a cross shot that flashed inches wide.

The half time team talk was still fresh in the Heath minds when within seconds it was forgotten as Croydon broke down the Heath right side at pace and the cross was side footed home from six yards. Heath now had to attack and from a Freitas cross Lee Skinner was taken out by the keeper but no penalty was given. Then Skinner outpaced the Croydon defenders to round the keeper but the goal was ruled out for offside. The balls along the floor for Skinner and substitute Kurt Lares were causing the Croydon defenders far more problems than the ariel stuff had in the first half and it seemed only a matter of time before Heath scored. The turning point came when Mark Enticknap came on to replace Simon McMenemy and he immediately played a great ball to get Lares in. He was brought down in the box and while Heath appealed in vain Croydon went straight down the other end and notched their third goal. Within minutes they made it 4 - 0, but Heath still had chances with Enticknap just failing to get on the end of a cross and then just missing the target when a shot rebounded off the keeper. There was time for Skinner and Humphries to be booked, for Tim Wilkins to come on and produce a cameo performance and for Tommy Howes to again defend superbly before the final whistle ended Heath's Wembley dreams for this season. This Saturday Heath are away to Hurstpierpoint in the League.

Team

Turner, White, Moores, Howes, McMenemy (Enticknap 60), Cooper, Humphries, Day (Wilkins 70), Freitas, Skinner, Clark (Lares 45)

Man of the Match

Howes