Bears Complete Double to Win Bragging Rights.

The Bears made it two wins and two draws from 3 away games and one home match. The local derby included 3 red cards with Heath scoring the winning goal when down to 9 men. However the game was played in a good spirit with both teams working hard on a surface which was very difficult in places.
Heath welcomed back Michael Chester in goal and the unavailable Jamie Wanstall was replaced by Ollie Joells. These were the only changes from the line-up that came so close to victory at YMCA the previous week.
Alfold’s Jack Nourse had the first shot which was easily covered by Chester. Jake Hull then wriggled his way behind the Alfold defence to cross for Cameron Watts to set up Max Howell but his shot was just two high. Next Chester had to be smartly off his line to beat Kelvin Lucas to a through ball. Alfold opened the scoring when ex Bear Tiago Andrade fed Adrian Todd and he drilled a fine finish into the far bottom corner. Andrade put a free kick over the bar then Howell’s raking run ended in a shot which Alex Harris spilled but ex Bear Andy Howard tidied up the rebound. Heaths best chance of the half came when Jamie Taylor intercepted an Alfold pass and rounded Harris but as the angle narrowed and the defenders got back he fired his shot against the bar. The half ended with Watts shooting straight at Harris and Lucas firing into the side netting.
After a quiet start to the second half the game burst into life when Taylor robbed Todd in the box and was wrestled to the ground. The whole ground waited for the whistle but inexplicably the referee allowed play to continue as perhaps he thought Taylor might still score. But by the time the Heath striker had got back to his feet Clyde Jaques had got back to block his shot. Again the crowd expected the penalty to be given but no decision was made. To make matters worse, Alfold broke away and Jamie Robinson brought Lucas down 30 yards out but although Ollie Joells was running back into a covering position the referee decided that Robinson had stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity and produced the red card. He then summoned Todd to him and gave him a red card for bringing down Taylor even though he had not given the penalty. By now both dugouts were completely baffled and comparing notes about what was going on.
Heath hit back and a short corner resulted in Waddingham shooting over the bar. Jake Hull who had toiled during the first half in the boggiest part of the pitch was replaced by Archie Goddard who almost immediately danced into the box and was brought down by Powell. The confident 17 year old grabbed the ball and stepped up to send Harris the wrong way from the spot to score his second goal in senior football. Alfold hit back and Chester had to scramble Howards back header away for a corner.
Just when it looked like the game would end quietly as a draw Alfie Jones received a red card for treading on Andrade’s leg after he had gone down on the touchline. Heath now down to nine men were still going for the winner and Steve Painter kept two strikers up when many teams would have tried to shut up shop so close to the end of the game. This nearly paid off after a spell of Heath pressure ended with Taylor bringing a fine diving save from Harris. Chester came right to the edge of his area to swallow up Bold’s pass as Lucas tried to get onto it. Still the drama was not over as a dangerous cross missed everone in front of the Heath goal and fell for Martyn Flack beyond the far post. He fed Taylor on half way who skipped past Powell and as Jacques came across to cover, squared the ball to Goddard who beat Harris and Jacques’ efforts to keep it out with Taylor following up to make sure. Heath now dropped Taylor back into midfield and for the rest of stoppage time kept feeding Goddard who on several occasions took the ball right up the home sides corner flag and whilst he was guarding it there the final whistle went to give heath a hard earned win.
Neither side are likely to consider it one of their best footballing performances but in difficult circumstances it was Heath’s spirit and determination added to the impact of Goddard that made the difference. Heath will now be without Robinson and Jones for a spell although there may be a chance of an appeal as had the penalty been correctly given, Robinson would not have been sent off. The referee who otherwise had a good game admitted after that he may have made a mistake with the penalty which is sometimes all players and managers can ask for. Next up it is Crawley Down at The Countryside Stadium and the visitors will be determined to get a result after two earlier defeats to the Bears.
Heath:
Chester, Flack, Robinson, Joells, Jones, Waddingham, Law, Howell, Watts, Taylor, Hull(Goddard)
Subs: Blake, C Jones, Jobbins.

By Sam Chapman