No Joy for Heath at Down

Crawley Down Gatwick 3 Broadbridge Heath 0

Looking to recover from the weekend defeat, Heath arrived at Crawley Down, not a happy hunting ground in the past, without the unavailable Michael Chester, Jamie Robinson, Tom Howard Bold and the injured Stuart Chester and Scott Weller. The re-gigged team started fairly comfortably with Shaun Findlay causing problems down the left and Tim Martin and Devon Fender threatening to get in behind the home defence. But as the half wore on Down began to control more possession and on 27 minutes Ollie Leslie was given too much room to run at the Bears defence before slipping the ball wide to Lee Thomas who finished low into Connor Evento’s net.

The home side continued to have the bulk of possession but Heath still looked dangerous on the break and Devon Fender lobbed over when through and then was thwarted by a last ditch tackle as he was about to put the ball into the net. Tim Martin finished clinically only to have the goal disallowed for offside. Between these attacks Down continued to threaten the Heath goal with debutant keeper Evento showing some good handling. With 5 minutes to go before half time, Down gained a free kick 25 yards from goal and ex Horsham and Three Bridges midfielder Wilson Peauroux curled the ball past the wall to double his sides lead.

The second half began with a far more determined Heath taking the game to their hosts and producing several good chances for Fender, Martin and Cousins but a lack of clinical finishing and determined defence the score remained the same. Heath continued to have the bulk of the game with the Down keeper looking very assured and Tim Martin’s shot being cleared off the line onto the cross bar and out. Martin also hooked a volley over and another last dich tackle thwarted Fender at the near post.

As time ran out Down broke away and Kieran Grieg sealed the home victory. With more clinical finishing from both sides it could have been a high scoring draw but in the end Down were good value for their win and Heath must now look to a trip to Eastbourne United to end this mini dip.

Heath: Evento, Flack(Elkana), Maxwell, Attwater, Copestake, McDermott (Cousins), Godfrey, Parsons, Findlay, Martin, Fender
Sub not used: Sim