HEATH MAKE CUP SEMI-FINAL – JUST!!

A badly disjointed Heath performance saw them nearly come to grief in the League cup quarter final against Broadbridge who took the lead in the first minute whilst most of the Heath team seemed to still be at their Christmas parties rather than concentrating on their opponents who netted from a far post cross after 50 seconds.

From then on Heath had the majority of the possession but with so many players having an off day clear cut chances were few and far between, and Heath were unable to draw level, although Dean Pitcher came closest to an equaliser in the first half when with an audacious chip from 30 yards he hit the crossbar with the keeper well beaten.

The second half was more of the same with Heath having the possession but a couple of times Broadbridge broke through and had clearer chances than the home team had created, although Chris Turner made a couple of good saves to keep the deficit to just one which was vital as Heath didn't really look like scoring, although a couple of really good penalty shouts were inexplicably turned down by the referee. As Tommy Howes was having an outstanding all round game breaking up attacks and showing good composure and distribution, Heath decided to switch to three at the back as they pushed Matt Kelly forward in search of the elusive goal and they started to play a more direct game. The visiting defense continued to cope with the pressure although they were being forced to defend deeper and deeper as time ticked on, as Heath pressed from all angles. Finally with three minutes of injury time played, Louis Wright played another free kick in from the right side and it eluded every one until it was buried into the net with a superb diving header from the brilliant Cafu White, taking the game into extra time.

Conceding the very late goal seemed to have taken the wind out of the Broadbridge sails, and it was no surprise when Heath took the lead in the first half of extra time when after the ball had pinged around the Broadbridge goal it came out of the box and was driven first time into the far corner of the net by Bastien Meynard for his first goal for the club. The scoring was completed in the second half when Rob Cooper made space for Dean Pitcher to score his customary goal as he absolutely bulleted the ball past the keeper who didn't even see it as it whistled past him – to the obvious delight of the home fans behind the goal! The victory gives Heath a semi final with Saltdean on a date to be announced. Heath's next game is in the league on 27th away at Pease Pottage with a 1.30 kick off.

Team

Turner, White, Howes, Kelly, McMenemy, Cooper, Day, Mvale (Wright 60), Humphries (Meynard 65) D.Pitcher, Clark (Matt Beard)

Man of the Match

White