Heath suffer late heartbreak
Photos by Ray Turner
Following a rocky start to the season the Heath had the chance to bounce back at Hanbury Park where they took on Ramsgate in the league. Heath manager Martin Dynan made three changes to the starting eleven that took on Leatherhead in the FA Cup; notably new midfield arrival Olumide Oluwatimilehin getting his first start as a Blues player. The Rams, who finished just short of the play-off spots last season, took the game to the Blues early on with three good chances – forcing Billy Collings into making four saves.
Heath striker Tom Collins was denied from just inside the box with a low shot saved by the Rams goalkeeper. It took twenty minutes before the first goal with the away side making their chance count. Joshua Ajayi lost his man with a quick turn and fired the ball past Billy Collings at his near post. With only a handful of half chances before the break, Heath came out for the second half with a point to prove. Winger Ibrahim Jalloh was played in behind by an inch-perfect pass by Melford Simpson deep inside his own half, and initially hit the shot into the keeper but was fastest to react to tap home into an empty net and pulling Haywards Heath level.
The Blues, however, saw a lapse in judgment by defender Marc Lida Gballou with the Rams awarded a penalty on the hour mark. Goalscorer Joshua Ajayi who stepped up to take the penalty, which was saved by Billy Collings – the rebound coming back to the taker but again denied by lightning quick reactions of the Heath number one. As the game came to its final stages, the Rams were able to find their winner; Jerald Aboagye lost his marker and was able to poke the ball home from a few yards out which left too little time for the Heath to find a response
A result which no doubt sent the traveling fans home happy, and sent the majority of the 346 in attendance thinking the Blues deserved more from the match. With new signing Olumide Oluwatimilehin being chosen as the Man of The Match, it’s clear that Heath may have found a new man to add an injection of quality into the middle of the park.
Player of the Match: Olumide Oluwatimilehin
