COOPER DOES THE TRICK FOR HEATH

Heath's final league match of the season saw them put together a good performance to beat a resolute Newhaven team in a match Heath had to win to stand any chance of promotion. This they achieved, although with other results not going in their favour the second promotion spot behind Clymping may not be theirs. Congratulations from all at HHTFC to Clymping on their well earned success.

From the start Heath were on top producing a performance that showed the strength throughout all the team as they controlled proceeding from start to finish with the home team failing to produce anything of note. Heath were sharper than they had been in the fateful match against Saltdean last Tuesday, and opened the scoring after 7 minutes, when Kevin Cooper who had already knocked one chance over the bar, took the ball in his stride on an angled run before slotting past the keeper from just inside the box. From then on the visitors threatened at regular intervals both from open play and from numerous corners, to build on the lead without actually managing to for the rest of the half. This was due to some wayward shooting but also on at least one occasion a fantastic save by the home keeper when Olly Day was set up cleverly by Rob Cooper and his volley from point blank range was spectacularly pushed to safety to much applause from the home fans.

The second half saw more chances being created by Heath as they kept the pressure on, with Newhaven relying on long downwind kicks from the keeper which were dealt with superbly by the Heath defence who have this season in the league only conceded 20 goals keeping twelve clean sheets in the process. Twenty minutes into the second half Heath got their second goal when the tireless Mark Beard worked his way down the right flank, held off the defender as he got into the box, and shot. The keeper saved it but the rebound fell again to Beard who shot at goal but was foiled again by the keeper. This time when the rebound came back to him Beard laid it across to Kev Cooper who confidently knocked it into the net. More attacks were then mounted with Tommy Howes and Olly Day heading corners over before Heath got their third goal just before the end as Beard replicated his run down the right, this time he cut into the box from the byline and passed to Cooper who gleefully rammed home the ball for his hat trick. Straight after this both Mark Beard and Kevin Cooper were substituted to well deserved applause for jobs very well done by them both, and five minutes later the game ended - leaving Heath sweating on other results next Saturday in order to attain the promotion place they want.

Team

Turner, White, Wright L, Howes, Humphries, Moores, Beard (A.Wright 86), Day, Cooper R, Freitas, Cooper K (Breeds 86)

Man of the Match

Cooper K