Heath hit Uckfield for Six
It was yet another matchday at the Home Smart Energy Stadium for the Heath who welcomed AFC Uckfield Town for a Saturday 3pm kickoff. Prior to kickoff, the Heath sat in 8th position meanwhile the visitors teetered on the edge of the relegation zone, 3rd from bottom.
Naim Rouane’s side was very different to the team which defeated Crawley Down Gatwick a week prior, striker Ben Connolly started his first game for the club, and Sam Geard, Elliott Bresciani and JJ Minty all found a place in the starting 11. Heath took their time getting into the game, but the chances were flowing by the half an hour mark, after Heath had a penalty shout waved away by the referee, Holmwood in the Oakmen’s goal pulled off a number of saves to keep the game goalless at the break.
Ben Connolly broke the deadlock with 54 minutes gone, a rebounded shot falling perfectly for the number 9 who made no mistake in putting Heath ahead. And just 7 minutes later, Connolly had a second, rounding the keeper and cooly doubling Heath’s advantage. After the goal, Tom Gilbert replaced Josh Spinks. The visitors were reduced to 10 men after Marcus Alexander wiped out Sam Geard in the box, the defender already on a yellow card was given marching orders and Heath had a chance to make it 3 from the spot, Lewis Finney was the man to take and he calmly dispatched. The Heath’s remaining 2 substitutes came on, Dobell and Benson, Hayden Skerry and Lewis Finney made way. Liam Benson had only been on the pitch for 3 minutes before he made the most of Dan Cadman’s hard work as the defender got to the byline and pulled it across for Benson to make it 4-0 to the Heath.
It was clear that Heath had no sign of taking their foot off the gas as Sam Geard spun in the box and fired his shot straight into the bottom right corner, the midfielder’s first goal for the club since his arrival in late September! Ben Connolly continued to knock on the door for his much-deserved hattrick, and when Benson was brought down in the box, he salvaged the chance and allowed Connolly to find his 3rd and Heath’s 6th of the match. A first-class performance from the Blues gave the Heath-faithful plenty to cheer about as the Christmas spirit rung around the Home Smart Energy Stadium in front of an impressive crowd of 348!