Broadbridge Heath U23 4-4 Saltdean United U23

Heath U23s made history on Thursday evening when the team actually won a penalty shoot-out for the first time ever, not that there’s been too many over the years but we’ve always been on the wrong end of the result when they do occur.

The game itself was extremely entertaining but also a frustrating match to watch especially the second half goal-fest. Heath took the lead on 14 minutes when Taylor Edwards, in the right back position, played a long ball forward that sent Szymon Kowalczyk through down the right, the midfielder skipped past one challenge, dribbled round two further defenders before cutting it back from the goal-line to Harry Kent for a tap-in from 6 yards and despite further chances it remained that way at the break.

The visitors equalised on the hour when Kai Geal played a ball in from the left to the back post where Ben Whitmore stretched a leg to convert from close range. Things got even better for the visitors 5mins later when a corner from the right was played into a crowded Heath 6yd box where it was bundled across the line by Kieran Evans and less than a minute later it was 3-1 following a good solo run and goal by Taylor Torgersen.

With 20mins remaining Heath were given a lifeline when a free kick was awarded some 25 yards from the Saltdean goal, Harry Webster stepped up and hammered a right foot shot that flew low into the bottom left corner and it was game on. The Bears were level within 3mins when Rodrigo Goncalves forced his way into the Tigers penalty area before picking out Kent who struck a low right foot shot into the far corner to make it 3-3.

The Tigers were not done and with 10mins remaining retook the lead when Torgersen ran at the Heath defence before unleashing a fierce right foot shot from 18yds that flew off the wet surface in the goal. Again Heath came back with Harry Kent equalising in the 87th minute with a left foot cracker and it remained 4-4 at the final whistle and into a Penalty Shootout which ended in a 3-1 victory for the Bears scoring three of their four penalties with the Tigers only managing one of their four.

The Quarter-Final will take place on Thursday 19th November at 7.30 with Heath home to the winners of the East Grinstead Town v Chichester City match.

Team: Watson-Price, Edwards, A. Al Meskin, I Al Meskin, Pickering, Mark, Kowalczyk, Wraight, Kent, Barlow, Maznica. Subs. H.Webster, Richards, Duneclift, Goncalves, Bridgeman.