Heath continued their fine league form to earn a hard fought victory over Hassocks at the Countryside Stadium on Tuesday night.
Scott Weller was missing through injury but Rob Godfrey returned and Ollie Joells joined the squad for the first time since his move from Loxwood in the summer.
The first half was fairly even but Heath did come close on a few occasions, notably when Jamie Taylor’s flying Mark Hughes style volley was blocked by James Earl in the visitor’s goal. Home keeper Conor Evento was called upon to block one goal bound shot but it was still scoreless at half time.
Heath started the second half well and it was no surprise when after Hassocks had half cleared an effort from George Cousins, the ball fell for Max Howell and he found the bottom corner from fifteen yards. Unfortunately, not for the first time this season, Heath having appeared to have taken control, gave away the initiative, as Ben Bacon beat Evento to a corner to bring the visitors back into the game. For a few minutes Heath were forced to defend their box with Lee Carney and Josh Tuck making several headed clearances.
Heath gradually got back on the front foot and when Jamie Robinson broke down the left flank and delivered the kind of cross strikers dream of, Taylor got behind his defender to smash a stunning volley inside the far post. Another Taylor effort brought a fine save from Earl as Heath tried to put the game to bed. In the last few minutes Hassocks threw everything forward but Evento was never really tested in the home goal the three points were the Bears’.
With Carney returning to the back four Heath certainly looked more solid and Godfrey put in a good 70 minutes, despite having just recovered from illness, before being replaced by Joells making his Bears’ debut. Tim Cook and Cam Watts were also used and with Martyn Flack almost fully recovered from injury and Scott Weller and Marlon Maxwell to come back in, manager Steve Painter will be feeling much more confident after the recent cup blips.
Heath have no game this Saturday, but welcome Crawley Down to the Countryside Stadium next Tuesday for an RUR Cup tie.
See the Mid Sussex Times Report
https://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/sport/football/hassocks-lose-out-to-this-year-s-dark-horses-1-9066685
Finally, there was another 100 plus crowd despite the England game and Horsham being at home in the FA Cup.
Heath
Evento, Jones, Robinson, Carney, Tuck, Waddingham, Howard-Bold, Godfrey(Joells), Cousins(Watts), Taylor(Cook), Howell. Sub. Flack