Horsham YMCA U23 0-2 Broadbridge Heath U23

The top two in the division met on Thursday night when the Bears travelled to Gorings Mead home of Horsham YMCA hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season but the hosts were clearly not going to make it easy for the division leaders by fielding a very strong team consisting of several players with senior football experience.

The hosts had the better of the early exchanges forcing two corners but failing to trouble Heath keeper Monty Watson-Price but it was the Bears who took the lead in the 8th minute. The move was started in the left fullback position when Adam Al Meskin intercepted a pass deep in his own half, he sprinted the length of the pitch before crossing to his team-mate just outside the box, he picked out Max Richards who hammered a low right foot shot that the YM keeper did well to push out for a corner.

Josh Barlow took the resulting corner playing it across the goal to the far post to Ilias Al Meskin’s whose header was blocked by a defender, the ball came out to Harry Kent who had another shot blocked but he responded quickest to gather the rebound and hammer it past the keeper for his 3rd of the season.

Heath doubled their lead 11 minutes later when Ilias Al Meskin intercepted a clearance in the centre of midfield, the ball was worked wide to the right before being whipped in to Harry Webster who struck a right foot shot from 20 yards that settled into the bottom left corner of the YM goal to give the Bears a deserved 2-0 lead at the break.

The second period lacked any real goal threat by either side with the hosts best chance coming in the 85th minute when former Heath player Jamie Buchanan stuck a right foot free kick from 25yards against the crossbar but Heath held on comfortably to see out the game and pick up another 3 points.

Team: Watson-Price, Zabadine, A.Al Meskin, Wraight, Pickering, Terry, Richards, I.Al Meskin, Kent, Barlow, H.Webster. Subs Duneclift, Mark, Gorringe, Joste, Penalver.