Bank Holiday Defeat for Blues
Heath Caught Napping by Fast Starting Steyning
Bank holiday Monday meant the unfamiliar kick off time of 11am for the Blues and their fans will be wondering if alarm clocks should have been set earlier after a slow start against Steyning allowed the home side to build a significant lead.
Manager Lovett made several changes to the 11 that started against Wick on Saturday with Napper, Britton, Blencowe and Wadhams coming into the team. It would be Steyning who would start the quickest and in the 2nd minute they managed to expose the new-look Heath back four with a cut back from the right finding Shooman in space inside the box to finish easily. Heath had plenty of the ball but lacked penetration in the final third during the opening exchanges and Steyning were able to pick off the Heath defence again when Charlie Meehan slotted past Jones in the Heath goal in the 13th Minute.
Steyning got a third goal as reward for their fast start in the 17th minute when Shooman was sent clear and he was able to finish calmly past the on-rushing Jones. The home side were then awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge in the box, but Alfie Jones was able to pull off a fantastic low save to keep the score at 3. Unfortunately, Alfie was injured in the process of this save, dislocating a finger and was unable to continue needing a trip to A&E. With no keeper on the bench, it fell to JJ Minty to take responsibility and don the gloves for the remainder, with Jake Riddington coming on for his first appearance for the club.
With half and hour on the clock, ex-Heath defender Nathan Cooper rose highest at a corner and dispatched his header past Minty to make the lead four.
In truth Heath had started to create chances but the ball just wasn’t falling for the Blues strike force, a number of near misses finally led to Darius Goldsmith pulling one back for the Heath in the 32nd minute.
The second period was more even, with Heath pushing hard to get themselves back in the game, they were able to fashion several chances but were unable to get a further foothold in the game. Brown coming close with a header narrowly over, and several other half chances being denied by either the Steyning keeper or the woodwork. At the other end makeshift keeper Minty was able to make a couple of stops but was largely untroubled for the second half. As the bank holiday sun shone on the Shooting Field tempers started to raise towards the end of what had been a competitive game, this culminated with Lucas Goetzke being show a red card after the final whistle for kicking out at George Brown.
Heath will rue their slow start against a side expected to challenge for honours this season, and turn their attention to Shoreham, the next visitors to Hanbury on Saturday.
