Broadbridge Heath 1-0 Alfold

Heath got their season in the SCFL Premier division up and running with a narrow 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten Alfold by 1-0. Heath welcomed back Josh Tuck at centre-half to play alongside Marlon Maxwell with Alfie Jones dropping to the bench, that was the only change to the team that earned a draw at Saltdean 3-days earlier; but Jones didn’t have to wait too long to enter the action with Maxwell pulling up injured with only 10 minute played.

Heath started well, had a lot of possession in the opposition half but couldn’t break down the visitor’s defence marshalled by former Heath favourite and Alfold skipper Andy Howard, still putting in solid performances at the heart of defence almost 20 years after first making his appearance for the Bears.

The best chance of the half came on 12 minutes when Jamie Taylor split the defence with an inch perfect through ball allowing Cameron Watts to cut in from the left and with the Alfold keeper narrowing the angle the youngster placed his shot wide of the keeper but was denied his first senior goal when the ball rebounded off the inside of the post and back to the keeper.

The second half continued in a similar manner to the first with Heath having most of the possession but the pace of the visitors forwards always a danger on the counter-attack.

The only goal of the game came on 55 minutes and it was worth paying the entrance fee alone, Scott Weller some 30 yards from goal hit a screamer that flew into the top corner giving the Alfold keeper no chance of stopping.

Further setbacks followed for the Bears when first George Cousins limped out the game with a groin strain and Josh Tuck following soon after but despite the enforced injuries The Bears held on and to record their first 3 points of the season to move up the 13th place.

Next up for The Bears is a trip to Hastings United on Saturday in the FA Cup Preliminary Round, Kick Off is at 3.00 and hope you can make it.

Team: Evento, Robinson, Flack, Maxwell (Jones 10), Carney, Waddingham, Weller, Watts, Taylor (Whiteley 75), Cousins (Godfrey 60).