Heath Rue Missed Chances at sweltering Hanbury Park
The Heath entertained Eastbourne Town looking for their third consecutive win, with the game played in baking conditions at Hanbury.
It was a nervous start from the Heath the opening five minutes with the home side struggling to retain possession, however it was the Blues that created the first clear-cut opportunity with Goldsmith controlling the ball on halfway. Goldsmith hooked the ball down the line to Cameron Dobell, blistering down the right-hand side and directing a low cross into the box. Michael Uwezu dummied and Skerry’s low hard strike was straight at the goalkeeper who saved with his feet. Either side and it would have been a certain goal.
This settled the Heath down and the home side started playing better football with several slick interplaying moves in the blistering heat. The opposition forced several corners in their own right, but weren’t really testing Jones in the Heath goal. In the 17th minute George Brown played a picture-perfect cross-field pass to Hayden Skerry, with his first time cushioned volley played into the overlapping Dan Cadman who blasted his shot into the side netting.
Another George Brown long ball this time found Uwezu, he controlled the ball and surrounded by three Town players he backheeled the ball beautifully into the path of Darius Goldsmith, who’s first time left-footed strike curled over the bar.
A drinks break followed, and minutes later the breakthrough came for the visitors. A Zydonik backpass fell short and Archibald scraped the ball with his studs to the left eluding the onrushing Jones, and walking the ball into an empty net. Moments later it could have been two with Duah the visiting full back charging forward to the edge of the area. His shot was well blocked by Brown but the ball broke to the left and the resulting shot was well parried by Jones with a diving save to his left.
Halftime came and went, with the Heath being unfortunate to go into the break 1 down. In the 52nd minute the ball was switched out wide to Riddington who beat his man, whipped in a deep cross which Uwezu headed across goal from the edge of the six yard box with the keeper stretching his leg out to make a superb reaction save, his best of the day.
The Heath made a number of changes but the game was petering out in the heat, with very few chances being created. Abudiore came on for Skerry, Pitcher replaced Byron Napper and JJ Minty replaced Cameron Dobell. The latter change almost paid instant dividends with Uwezu showing good strength, shielding the ball for Abudiore to run onto. Emmanuel’s shot was parried across goal by the keeper, and with the goal gaping Minty volleyed wide from just inside the left edge of the penalty area.
It was 5.05 at this point and there was time for one more Heath chance in the 98th minute. Minty was slid in well by Goldsmith, he feinted to shoot, beat his man and forced another save from the keeper. On the rebound it looked like Uwezu was brought down with protests from the Heath faithful and players alike, but the referee waved it off.
14 points from the first 8 games for the Heath. A really frustrating afternoon but a long way to go in the season.
