Heath Under 23’s travelled to Peacehaven for a Sussex County U23 First Round Cup match on Monday 15th September and Chris Ellis’s team suffered their first defeat of the season in a penalty shoot-out that saw 15 consecutive penalties scored without a miss or a save.

The hosts took the lead on 13 minutes when a low cross from the left was turned in at the near-post. Heath drew level 2 minutes later when a Dylan Peck cross from the right was turned in at the far post by Harry Kent netting his 6th goal in 3 games this season. The Bears had several chances to add to their tally but were denied by some excellent goalkeeping from Peacehaven stopper Lewis Harland and it remained 1-1 at the break.

Adam Al Meskin gave Heath the lead 7 minutes into the restart when he received the ball wide on the left and ran towards the hosts defence beating three players on the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a fierce right foot shot that took a deflection giving Harland no chance of stopping.

With a gale-force wind now on their backs the hosts went on to dominate much of the second half play, winning corner after corner but unable to find that final clinical finish. As the minutes ticked by some inspired Heath substitutions in the final 15 minutes saw the pendulum swing back in Heaths favour with U18 striker Sam Abrehert particularly looking dangerous with every attack and increasing Heath’s lead with a fierce right foot shot in the 89th minute to score his first goal for the Under 23’s.

The Bears continued to create some great chances and were denied by Harland saving from Peck, Kent and another from Abrehert with the Heath striker also firing a low shot across the face of goal and inches wide of the post.

2 minutes into time added on the hosts were given a life-line when an unaccustomed mistake by Heath goalkeeper Jon Aylett allowed Peacehaven to score a second with a tap-in and with that they threw everything at Heath and it paid off when they equalised on 90+6 minutes to take the match into a penalty shoot-out.

All the penalty kicks were all of a high quality giving neither keeper a chance until that 16th spot kick when Harland dived to his left as the ball was drilled down the centre, the hosts keeper stuck out a leg and managed to get a foot to the ball to divert it to safety and to win the match for his team.

Disappointment for the Bears but good luck to Peacehaven in the 2nd Round where they will travel to either Horsham YM or Oakwood.

Team: Aylett, Cranfield, Al Meskin, Duneclift, York, Cumming, Pickering, Hayes, Kent, Peck, Louw. Subs: Hillier, Goncalves, Abrehert, Cooksley, Murawha.