Following heavy overnight and morning rain it was surprising to find the game still on, the pitch was pretty stodgy and it was clear the conditions were never going to be conducive to pretty football.

The first chance of the match came on 6 minute with Shoreham’s Rob O’Toole hitting a shot on the turn to bring out a fine save by Michael Chester. Heath went straight up the other end and an Ollie Moore cross was met by Tim Martin but his header lacked power and was comfortably saved by Josh Heyburn in the Shoreham goal.

Minutes later Jake Holmes won a corner on the left and as the ball was played in the Heath striker volleyed an effort just wide of the post. On 30 minutes Jamal Sultan was put through on goal but his lob over the advancing Heyburn hit the top of the cross bar and went behind for a corner.

The deadlock was finally broken 10 minutes before the break when Joe Dryer rifled a shot that beat Chester off his near post, despite the Heath stopper getting a hand to it. Heath fought back and felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Jamie Robinson was brought down in the box but the Match Referee waved away any penalty claims. Robinson was again fouled minutes later but this time a free kick was awarded just outside the area, Jamal Sultan’s kick going wide of the goal.

A fairly quiet start to the second half until the hour mark when Shoreham substitute Mark Goldson rifled a shot from 20 yards which Chester did well to save. While at the other end Tim Martin was brought down just outside the penalty area but his shot from the free kick went straight into the arms of Heyburn.

Shoreham scored their second on 75 minutes; a cross from the right was met first time by O’Toole who made sure from close range. The hosts were now well on top and wrapped up the scoring with a third through Tom Burton 6 minutes later.

Heath did put in a good performance for an hour but appeared to tire in the final stages. Next up is a trip to Arundel on Saturday.

Team: M. Chester, Holvey, Robinson, S. Chester, Maxwell (Nash 76), Sandell, Findlay (Cousins 86), Moore, Sultan, Holmes, Martin (Godfrey 67).