Broadbridge Heath Under 23s kicked off their season in the Southern Combination League Under 23 North Division last Thursday with a trip to Oakwood but things didn’t go as hoped with the hosts picking up all 3 points in a 3-2 victory.

For the match Oakwood fielded a strong side with four over-age players in their starting lineup but it was The Bears who started well kicking down the slope and they went on to dominate the first half but failed to convert their dominance into goals, Deren Bidir scored the only goal of the half 15 minutes before the break after good work by new signing Jamie Collyer.

The hosts equalised 10 minutes into the restart when Elliot Rigler fired in a right foot shot from close range giving Heath goalkeeper Jono Aylett no chance of stopping. It was now the turn of the home-side to have the upper-hand but against the run of play Heath regained the lead when Bedir struck a right foot shot from distance which the Oakwood goalkeeper could only palm away and Nathan Kennedy-Tamplin was on it in a flash to convert from close range.

Back came the hosts 4 minutes later, some close control in the penalty area from Oakwood’s Yassin Ainine who carried the ball to the goal-line before playing it low across the face of goal where it hit a retreating Heath defender for an own goal.

Things got even better for Oakwood a minute later when The Bears lost possession on the halfway line, the ball was worked down the right flank to Leslie Menka who hit a low right foot shot past Aylett to give his side the lead.

Heath had chances to equalise with Sam Abrehert twice being denied by the Oakwood goalkeeper but it wasn’t to be with the home-side taking the points.

Team: Aylett, Davies, Hayes, Wraight, Bedir, Hillier, York, Guest, Louw, Kent, Collyer. Subs: Thirkettle, Cina, Al0Meskin, Kennedy-Yamplin, Abrehert.