RUR Cup Final awaits the Blues!
After a long run of league fixtures, the Heath had an RUR Cup Semi-Final to attend to at the Home Smart Energy Stadium. The visitors, Eastbourne Town had already visited RH16 twice before this season, a loss in the league back in September and a 2-2 draw in the FA vase which was won by the Heath on penalties.
Non-league veteran James Rhodes joined the Blues from promotion rivals Newhaven, the midfielder found his place in the starting lineup. The woodwork was the star of the show in the opening 20 minutes, Lewis Finney’s shot from 20 yards out striking the outside of the post and out for a goal kick, and then it was Eastbourne Town’s turn shortly after; after being allowed an abundance of space on the left-hand side, the ball pulled across the box left what seemed an inevitable tap in for the arriving Nathan Jenkins but his effort crashed against the bar.
The Heath found the opening goal of the game in spectacular fashion. Lewis Finney the creator, rolling the ball through not just one, but two defenders’ legs before laying the ball off to debutant Rhodes who found the top left corner with a sumptuous side-footed finish giving Heath the lead in the 22nd minute. Things only got better for the Blues as 6 minutes later, Lewis Finney doubled the lead, drifting inside and tucking the ball into the bottom corner.
The second half, despite the Heath’s chances, saw a late comeback from Eastbourne Town with goals in the 85th and 89th minute took the match to get another Penalty shootout between the two sides.
Heath captain Byron Napper kicked off the shootout and made no mistake with his calmly placed penalty, and Darius Goldsmith also converted his penalty with Eastbourne scoring both of theirs; Lewis Finney’s penalty was the standout to make it 3-2 in the shootout, an unstoppable penalty into the top left corner. Eastbourne’s goalkeeper stepped up for the 3rd penalty, a rare but brave decision, but in the battle of goalkeepers, it was Mitch Bromage of Heath who came out on top, with a strong save to give the Blues the advantage. JJ Minty’s cooly finished penalty put the Heath within a kick of a cup final, and Eastbourne kept themselves in it, making the scores 4-3.
Up stepped Liam Hendy, the defender adjusting the ball on the spot and with the Home Smart Energy eerily silent in suspense, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and won the shootout for the Heath! The celebrations were ones the Haywards Heath faithful certainly won’t be forgetting for a while, the unity of the squad clear as they book their place into the RUR Cup final.
