Hassocks 0-1 Broadbridge Heath

What a relief to return to league football following the latest lockdown and the match at The Beacon was very well attended by supporters just wanting to get outside and cheer their team to victory.

Heath started brightly and new signing Tim Bennett had the ball in the back of the net inside a minute only for the goal to be disallowed for an offside during the build-up. At the other end former Heath striker Charlie Pitcher was put through on goal but Liam Mathews smothered the shot to deny the Hassocks striker.

Heath took the lead midway through the half when Jamie Robinson floated a right wing cross to the far post to Ollie Joels who headed it back across the face of the goal to Mark Zydonik who bundled it in from close range.

Heath created the first chance of the second half when Jamie Taylor flicked on a Liam Matthews drop kick to Charlie Parmiter who took a touch and rifled in a left foot shot from the edge of the box which the home keeper saved at the second attempt.

The outside temperature dropped considerably for those watching but on the pitch things heated up when Andrew Whittingham was shown a straight red card for a badly timed challenge on Alfie Jones, and minutes later it was Alfie’s turn for an early shower as he too was shown a straight red. Unfortunately what had been an entertaining match then deteriorated into a game full of stoppages as both sides lost their composure with the match referee the busiest person on the pitch showing a further six cautions.

Robinson almost doubled Heath’s lead in the closing minutes when he powered in a close range header but the Hassocks keeper made a superb point blank save to deny him.

For Heath it was our second league win and clean sheet on the trot and our first points on the road as we moved up a couple of places in the table. Let’s keep this form going before our next lockdown.

Team: Matthews, Smith, Robinson, Joels, Zydonik, Goodsir, Jones, Buchanan, Bennett, Taylor, Parmiter. Subs. Jobbins, Hooper-Ridsdale.