Broadbridge Heath 4-1 Newhaven

Newhaven came into this game with just one defeat in their last nine league matches, a run of form that has seen the Dockers move up to 8th and victory would have seen them leapfrog Heath into 6th.

They also have one of the best strikers in the division in Lee Robinson and the Newhaven forward almost added to his season’s tally in the opening minute with a powerful header from 8 yards that crashed off the crossbar. Minutes later Robinson split the Heath defence with an inch perfect pass to Scott Taylor who tried to place his shot wide of keeper Michael Chester who reacted brilliantly to make a save from point blank range and denied Newhaven an early lead.

Heath went straight up the other end and Jake Holmes got round the right back but the Newhaven keeper Jake Buss was quickly off his line to block the Heath strikers attempt, from the resulting corner Scott Weller rifled a shot towards goal which was again saved by Buss but the Newhaven stopper could do nothing about the opening goal scored in the 7th minute.

Stuart Chester received the ball deep in his half and spotted Dean Wright making a run down the left and the Heath centre-back played a perfect 40 yards pass into the path of Wright who ran through to slot in the bottom corner. Heath continued to push forward in search of goals and Wright was close again with another move down the left which ended with a shot that rattled the Newhaven crossbar.

Wright was proving a real thorn in the side to the visitor's defence and could have scored a second when put through on goal by Holmes but just as he was about to shoot he was bundled to the ground and after several minutes of treatment his strike partner Jake Holmes stepped up to convert the penalty for his 20th goal of the season.

Minutes before the break the Dockers task of getting something from the game was dealt a huge blow when Jason Sowter lost his cool and kicked out at Scott Weller lying on the ground, with the Match Referee just a few yards away it was an easy decision for the official showing the Newhaven player a red card, sent off for the second match running following his dismal against Eastbourne United a week earlier.

With a 2 goal lead and an extra man on the field the second half was pretty comfortable for the Heath players who added a 3rd goal within 6 minutes of the restart when Jamal Sultan’s cross from the right was volleyed towards goal by Holmes but Buss was there to block on the line and the ball came out to Ollie Moore who banged it into the net from close range.

Marlon Maxwell made it 4-0 on 56 minutes, Ollie Moore played in a free kick from wide on the left, the ball came out to Sultan who hammered a shot towards goal which Buss again blocked but the ball squirmed out of his grasp and Maxwell was there to poke the ball into the net.

A late flurry from the visitors saw Lee Robinson chip one effort just over the bar and in the dying minute’s brother Ian was on target for a late consolation.

A good performance from Painter’s team who open up a gap of 5 points above Newhaven and close the gap to 3 points on the teams above.

Team: M. Chester, Godfrey, Robinson, S. Chester, Maxwell, Findlay, Moore, Weller (Howard 80), Sultan (Swaine 75), Holmes (Martin 80), Wright.