Broadbridge Heath U23 3-1 Lingfield U23

Heath Under 23s were hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season when division leaders Lingfield visited the BodyMould Community Stadium on Thursday 28th September for a SCFL Division North fixture.

The side included starts for Mason Doughty and Faris Khallouqui both needing match fitness but leading scorers Wiktor Maznica and Szymon Kowalczyk were missing from the line-up.

Heath took the lead on 7 minutes when the ball was played out wide right to Doughty who skipped past two defenders carried the ball inside and then struck a left foot shot from 25 yards that flew past the Lingfield keeper, a welcome return to the Heath striker.

The visitors drew level 10 minutes before the break when a cross from the left was headed home by Wetton from close range for his fourth of the season but minutes later the Bears were back in front when the Lingfield keeper failed to hold on to a Doughty shot at the near post and Harry Kent was on it in a flash to fire it into the empty net, 2-1 at the break.

The second half continued in a similar style to the first with both sides having chances but the game was wrapped up on 63 minutes and it followed another amazing run by Doughty down the right, he took the ball into the penalty area twisting and turning defenders before rifling a right foot shot into the roof of the net.

Kent almost added a fourth when he received a left wing cross, side-stepped a defender and hit a left foot shot that scraped the post and went out to safety and the game ended in a 3-1 victory for the Bears taking them back to the top of the division.

Next Thursday, 5th October the Bears travel the short distance to play Horsham YMCA U23, Kick Off at 7.30.

Team: Watson-Price, Edwards, A.Al Meskin, I.Al Meskin, Mark, Duneclift, Doughty, Barlow, Kent, Khallouqui, H.Webster. Subs Gorringe, Wraight, Goncalves, Bridgeman.